Wenger says Arteta has ‘qualities’ for hotseat at Gunners

ARSENE Wenger has talked up Mikel Arteta’s qualities to be the next Arsenal manager.

The Catalan, who was at the Emirates for five years as a player, has been part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff for the past two years after hanging up his boots.

But City’s manager may need to make plans for a replacement as Arteta moves closer to the Gunners hotseat.

Wenger, who has left after 22 years in charge, is keen not to publicly influence his successor but would not have an issue with Arteta taking the position.

“He has all the qualities to do the job, yes and I think as well he is one of the favourites,” he told beIN Sports.

“He was a leader, and he has a good passion for the game and he knows the club well, he knows what is important at the club and he was captain of the club. Why not?”

Arteta has been praised for the work he has done in translating Guardiola’s principles into reality for the players, and the manager hailed his work to improve Raheem Sterling and PFA Young Player of the Year Leroy Sane over the last year.

“Arteta has helped them both to make a lot of actions near to the box,” he said.

“The qualities one against one, we say to the wingers when you receive the ball, if the control is good, the shape is good, go, go, it doesn’t matter if you lose the ball – try.

“They work after training sessions and drills close to the box with situations that are going to happen in the game to make them comfortable and make them believe more in what they have to do.”