Mikel Arteta very close to becoming Arsenal manager with former teammate Santi Cazorla lined up for backroom role

Talks with Arteta and his representatives have now reached the point where he has named potential staff and the financial package required to take him to the Emirates

Mikel Arteta is very close to becoming the next Arsenal manager, after another day of progress and productive talks between the former player and the club.

Although CEO Ivan Gazidis wants to complete a thorough process in the search for Arsene Wenger’s successor, no candidate ticks the boxes like the 36-year-old does.

It is now seen as highly unlikely that Arsenal would be able to come to an agreement with Juventus’ Max Allegri and in the meantime talks with Arteta and his representatives have reached the point where he has named potential staff and the financial package required.

Arteta would seek to bring in at least three of his own appointments - with further backroom changes expected.

It has been mooted that Santi Cazorla could be offered a new player-coaching deal, with a role like Michael Carrick’s in his last playing season at Manchester United.

Wenger’s assistant Steve Bould has been offered a new role pending the next manager’s approval, but he has not yet indicated a definite willingness to stay himself, and is understood to be weighing up a potential position at Stoke City.