Problems await Arteta’s arrival at the Emirates

MIKEL ARTETA will not be able to spend his way to success if he takes the Arsenal job.

Arteta could be installed as head coach at the Emirates by the end of the week after two rounds of talks with his old club.

But the Manchester City No. 2 has been told only limited funds will be available to him in January, with the club’s priority a clear-out of its high-earning flops.

Arsenal were listening to offers for both Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi last summer and still want both players moved on. But they are not the only ones available.

There is also a feeling inside the club that the squad contains enough talent to be doing much better than it is, with Arteta’s coaching credentials the key to unlocking it’s potential.

The 37-year-old former Barcelona and Everton player has already discussed transfer policy with Arsenal and is weighing up whether to take the job.

Arteta is not the only candidate for the job and is not the No. 1 choice of all the club’s key decision-makers with Patrick Vieira also enjoying support in some quarters.

There is even a suggestion that some of the players would prefer Carlo Ancelotti, who is on the verge of joining Everton.

But there is a growing feeling that the job belongs to Arteta if he chooses to take it, with a compensation package for City unlikely to present a major problem.

The reigning Premier League champions are fuming with the way the situation has been handled by Arsenal, who made no contact with them before approaching Arteta.

But Guardiola has admitted he would not stand in the Spaniard’s way should he decide to quit. Current caretaker Freddie Ljungberg is expected to remain at Arsenal. – Agencies