Mikel Arteta closing in on Arsenal job after talks with Gunners chiefs

Mikel Arteta is ready to take the jump into management after Arsenal held talks with him over the vacant manager’s job.

Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham and contracts negotiator Huss Fahmy were pictured coming out of Arteta’s house in the early hours of Sunday morning.

That was just hours after Manchester City beat Arsenal at the Emirates and the Arsenal hierarchy flew to Manchester to meet with Pep Guardiola’s No2 with Arteta now red-hot favorite for the job.

Arsenal had been hoping Freddie Ljungberg could keep the seat warm for the next few weeks or even until the summer if it meant getting their No1 choice.

However, Ljungberg’s poor run of results, failure to improve performances and with the club stuck in the middle of a run of 1 win in their last 11 games has pushed them into quick action.

But it is clear that Arteta has now emerged as the leading candidate and some bookies have now stopped taking bets on him becoming the next Arsenal manager.

READ: Gunners caretaker boss urges Arsenal board to appoint permanent manager after Man City trashing