Wenger backs Arteta

ARSENE WENGER has endorsed Arsenal’s move to appoint Mikel Arteta as his successor. The Gunners’ swoop to take their former midfielder from Manchester City gathered pace yesterday as talks began over who will make up the Spaniard’s backroom team. And Wenger told beIN SPORTS: ‘Arteta has all the qualities to do the job. He was a leader, he has a passion for the game and he knows the club well. He knows what is important at the club and he was captain. Why not?’ Arteta, who spent five seasons at Arsenal before going into coaching in 2016, has been assistant to Pep Guardiola at City for the past two seasons. There has been concern expressed about Arteta’s lack of experience compared to rival candidates Massimiliano Allegri and Luis Enrique. But Wenger said: ‘I left a lot of experience, people who were with me like Steve Bould and Jens Lehmann.’ Wenger revealed Arsenal have not involved him in selecting the next manager. ‘That takes a weight off me, because if it doesn’t work I’d have felt responsible for it,’ he said.