Arsene Wenger backs Mikel Arteta to succeed him as Arsenal manager

The 36-year-old, who serves as an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, has emerged as the frontrunner to take over at Arsenal

Arsene Wenger and Mikel Arteta during their time together at Arsenal (Getty)

Arsene Wenger has backed Mikel Arteta to succeed him as Arsenal manager amid speculation linking the former player to the current vacancy at the Emirates Stadium.

The 36-year-old, who serves as an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, has emerged as the frontrunner to take over at Arsenal following Wenger’s decision to step down after almost 22 years in the job.

As reported by The Independent, Arteta is close to reaching an agreement with Arsenal and has already named the backroom staff he would want to bring with him on his return to the club. It has been mooted that Santi Cazorla could be offered a new player-coaching deal, similar to Michael Carrick’s role in his last playing season at Manchester United.

Following the conclusion of the season, Wenger has praised Arteta’s coaching credentials and believes he has what it takes to become a top-class manager.

“He has all the qualities to do the job, yes and I think as well he is one of the favourites,” Wenger, who brought Arteta to the club in 2011 and made him captain in 2014, told beIN Sports.

“He was a leader, and he has a good passion for the game and he knows the club well, he knows what is important at the club and he was captain of the club. Why not?”

Wenger also pointed out that Arteta would have plenty of experience at his disposal, with the likes of Steve Bould and Jens Lehmann both in place to help the Spaniard adjust to life as head coach.

“I left a lot of experience behind me, people who were with me like Steve Bould, who has six years experience, and Jens Lehmann too,” Wenger said. “Unfortunately, some other staff left.

Arsene Wenger believes Mikel Arteta has what it takes (Getty Images)

“[Arteta] has been an assistant of Guardiola as well, so overall I think he has the qualities.”

Wenger made clear, though, that he would not be getting involved in the club’s recruitment process, and insisted he would back whoever is hired.

“I don’t want to influence that publicly because for me I believe it is important that they make their choice in an objective way and after once they make a decision I will support him,” Wenger said.

“If the club had asked my opinion I would have given it. Because I want my club to continue to do well and continue to play at the top. But they didn’t ask me, so that takes the weight away from me. Because if it doesn’t work, I would still [have been] responsible for it, like [Sir Alex] Ferguson was when they had problems. And on the other hand, they made that decision not to ask my opinion, and I can live with that.”