CITY’S FURY OVER MOVE FOR ARTETA
Arsenal’s Mikel talks spark angry reaction
FURIOUS Manchester City last night slammed “shambolic” Arsenal – and insisted the Gunners have yet to make any official contact about appointing Mikel Arteta as their boss.
The Spaniard was on the City bench alongside Pep Guardiola last night for the 3-1 Carabao Cup quarterfinal win at Oxford.
Arsenal officials were photographed in the early hours of Monday morning outside Arteta’s Manchester home – just hours after a Premier League match between the two clubs at the Emirates Stadium.
Former Gunners midfielder Arteta, 37, is
BY NEIL McLEMAN understood to want the job – and Guardiola has repeatedly said he will not stand in his way if he wishes to take his first head coach’s role. It is a view shared by the City hierarchy.
But the Premier League champions are increasingly angry about Arsenal’s failure to follow proper protocol by making a formal approach for their assistant coach – and pay a seven-figure compensation fee.
City are understood to view Arsenal’s conduct in the affair as “shambolic” and “disrespectful”.
The Gunners sacked Unai Emery last month but have won only one match under caretaker Freddie Ljungberg and want Arteta in place for Saturday’s visit to Everton.
But a City source said: “It’s surprising to hear that plans are being made by Arsenal to unveil our coach as their head coach on Friday on the basis that no contact has been made by the club to discuss this matter.”
Guardiola, asked about Arteta’s future after last night’s City victory, said only: “I don’t know.”
Ex-Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has backed his former player Arteta to be a success as boss.
Wenger said: “I believe Arteta has a great future, he has learned a lot in his first position as an assistant coach.”