‘I CRIED AS I SAID GOODBYE TO CITY’

HQ early yesterday to meet members of his new staff and the playing squad. He addressed the team upon their arrival, informing them of what he expects — starting with today’s lunchtime clash at Everton. Interim coach Freddie Ljungberg (below) will take charge of the team for the final time at Goodison Park and Arteta confirmed he would hold talks with the Swede before deciding whether he would remain part of the first-team set-up. The new Arsenal boss revealed last night that he wants his backroom team finalised as quickly as possible. Former Manchester United coach Steve Round, who worked with Arteta when he played for Everton, will be appointed to the revamped coaching staff while Inaki Cana Pavon, the Brentford goalkeeping coach, is a target. Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi insists Arteta’s appointment does not represent a risk, even though it is the Spaniard’s first job as a manager. Arteta admits the huge task of trying to return the club to former glories — Arsenal are 10th in the Premier League — will take time but admits he must start winning matches from the outset. He said. ‘We don’t have a pre-season. We have to be focused on things that can have a great impact immediately, in the short-term. ‘At the same time we have to set standards to live, to communicate, to be respectful to each other, to transmit what we want to do. It’s not one thing or the other. We have to try to start feeling both things at the same time if we can.’ Arteta’s return to the club where he spent six years as player has been shrouded in controversy, with City furious at what they perceive as Arsenal’s poor conduct during the pursuit of their coach. City sources had accused of Arsenal of failing to contact them about talks with Arteta — though

Sportsmail revealed yesterday that the Gunners did have dialogue with their Etihad counterparts. Sanllehi defended Arsenal’s position yesterday, saying: ‘In terms of Man City and given the tight relationship between Mikel and Pep Guardiola, we have been very careful, extremely transparent and very respectful.’ On his relationship with City boss Guardiola, Arteta said: ‘The relationship could not be any better. I said goodbye to everyone yesterday at the training ground. I cried because they have been my family for three and a half years. ‘We had a dream to do something in England with Pep that people said, “You cannot do it in the Premier League… you will be bullied”. ‘But we did it in the way we believed we could and that was so fulfilling. We share that for the rest of our lives.’ Meanwhile, Hertha Berlin are ready to offer Granit Xhaka an escape from Arsenal. The German side, managed by former Tottenham striker Jurgen Klinsmann, have been alerted by Xhaka’s uncertain future following his spat with Arsenal supporters in October.