ART OF MANAGEMENT
ARSENAL are hoping Mikel Arteta’s imminent arrival as manager will persuade skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to sign a new contract.
But the appointment has not gone down well with the striker’s brother Willy, who publicly questioned Arteta’s lack of experience in the top job.
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Aubameyang has just 18 months remaining on his £200,000-a-week deal and is in no rush to extend it.
But Gunners chiefs are determined not to allow their 13-goal top scorer, who cost £56million from Borussia Dortmund two years ago, to run down his contract and leave as a free agent in 2021.
Auba, 30, has netted 54 times in 84 Arsenal appearances and shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah last season. But he is unhappy with the team’s failure to compete for major honours and is now considering his next move — despite being given the captain’s armband by former boss Unai Emery last month.
Arsenal are relying on Arteta’s appointment to quell the dressing-room unrest caused by a miserable run of one win in their last 12 games.
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But the early signs are not great, with Willy Aubameyang responding to a post on AFTV’s Instagram account by pointing out: “Ljungberg, Arteta is the same. No experience.”
Arteta will complete his move from Manchester City in the next few days, with an announcement even possible before Saturday’s testing trip to Everton.
Talks have been going on for more than a week, with contract details and his coaching team still to be agreed.
Arsenal were caught on the hop by the photos which emerged of managing director Vinai Venkatesham and contract negotiator Huss Fahmy leaving Arteta’s home in the early hours of Monday after secret talks.
But they are refusing to be rushed into confirming his appointment until all aspects of the deal have been finalised.
City are demanding £1million in compensation for the man who has been assistant coach to Pep Guardiola for the past three years.
Arteta certainly has a great future and he has learned a lot in his first position as an assistant coach to Guardiola.
Arsene Wenger
And it is thought Arteta is keen to bring fellow Spaniard Rodolfo Borrell with him from City’s backroom staff.
Domenec Torrent, who worked with Arteta at City before bossing New York City last season, is another possible recruit.
And Arsenal are keen to retain interim manager Freddie Ljungberg on the staff as they look to replace the extensive backroom team which left with the sacked Emery three weeks ago.
Arsene Wenger believes his former captain will need all the help he can get to turn around the club’s fortunes.
The ex-Gunners boss said: “Arteta certainly has a great future and he has learned a lot in his first position as an assistant coach to Guardiola.
“But he will have to deal with the fact that he has no experience at that level and will need to be surrounded well.
“The change can be efficient very quickly. It’s just about making the right decisions and good players.
“The club was in a very strong financial position when I left but they have bought many players since and not all of them have worked out.
“We speak about the success of Liverpool and of course they have a great manager, but you have to say that in the last three or four years they bought the right players.”
Arteta, 37, was in the City dugout for last night’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at Oxford and Arsenal did not want him to be distracted by their ongoing discussions.
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But now that is out of the way, they hope to come to a swift conclusion after owner’s son Josh Kroenke gave the green light to Arteta’s appointment before flying back to America on Tuesday.
Ljungberg, who has been in charge for the Gunners’ last five games, is expected to take today’s pre-match press conference to preview the trip to Goodison.
And even if Arteta is confirmed in the next 48 hours, the Swede is likely to remain in charge at the weekend to give the new manager time to assess the squad.
Arsenal fans demand Aubameyang is stripped of captaincy after brother slams incoming manager Arteta