Daily Express

GUNNER MIKEL

City promise to leave way clear for Spaniard

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century – six games without a win.

There seem to be no leaders on the pitch to turn things around.

The previous captain, Granit Xhaka, has been hounded to the periphery after his angry gestures aimed at his own club’s fans.

The most notable moment of late for current armbandwea­rer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was him turning on a team-mate, Joe Willock, 20, making his eighth Premier League start, and unloading both barrels.

It is a daunting task for a more experience­d manager but Arsenal are heading off the cliff so rapidly that the club’s board can no longer be choosers.

Arteta may regret not being more choosy because even the brightest managerial reputation can be swallowed up in an instant. they win atWatford on Sunday to maintain their push for the top four.

“We’re disappoint­ed not to get the three points, which I feel we deserved,” said Maguire.

“We dominated the game for large parts. There were only 10 minutes in the first half when we weren’t on top and they scored from a set-play, which was disappoint­ing. In the first 30 minutes of the game, we were way on top. They scored from their best spell in the game but, from that, we have dominated the game.”

United were left fuming at Everton’s goal, which they felt should have been disallowed for a foul on David De Gea.

The United goalkeeper came for the ball, but was impeded by Dominic CalvertLew­in, with Victor Lindelof turning it into his own net. “I’ve watched it back and it is a foul,” Maguire told MUTV.

Sunday’s game was the fifth of nine that United face this month, with the side in Carabao Cup quarter-final action against Colchester tomorrow, before the trip to Vicarage Road.

“December is a busy month,” said Maguire. “We have the Carabao Cup and we need to go through to the semi-final. Then we have Watford away. They have a new manager and will make it difficult.” parties after an initial discussion took place last week.

Ljungberg, below, was in the Arsenal dugout for Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at the Emirates. City directors said goodbye to their hosts in the boardroom with no mention that senior staff from the north London club would soon be chasing them back up to Manchester. Vinai Venkatesha­m, Arsenal’s managing director and the man heading up the recruitmen­t process following the departure of Emery last month, was spotted leaving Arteta’s mansion in the North-west about 1.20am the morning after the game. With him was contract lawyer Huss Fahmy for what is understood to have been two and a half hours of talks over the manager’s job at the Emirates.

City believe 37-year-old Spaniard Arteta has kept them fully informed of the situation, and have no intention of standing in his path if the former Gunners midfielder’s ambition is to leave Guardiola and begin his own career as a head coach.

The Premier League champions also understand that Arsenal are not the only club chasing Arteta and they will demand a hefty sum in compensati­on if he leaves.

 ?? Main pictures: JOHN WALTON and IAN KINGTON ?? STAR TURNS De Bruyne scores for City and Arteta, right, celebrates while at Arsenal
GLEE CLUB: Arteta is delighted after scoring a goal during Arsenal’s glory days
WINNING
Arteta on the bench with Manchester City manager TEAM
Pep Guardiola on Sunday
FOUL? De Gea comes for the ball and Everton take the lead
Main pictures: JOHN WALTON and IAN KINGTON STAR TURNS De Bruyne scores for City and Arteta, right, celebrates while at Arsenal GLEE CLUB: Arteta is delighted after scoring a goal during Arsenal’s glory days WINNING Arteta on the bench with Manchester City manager TEAM Pep Guardiola on Sunday FOUL? De Gea comes for the ball and Everton take the lead
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