Arsenal next manager: Gunners board stall over the appointment of Mikel Arteta

ARSENAL'S board have yet to approve the appointment of Mikel Arteta as Arsene Wenger's successor.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2018 by Dailystar.co.uk

Arsenal are yet to make a decision on Mikel Arteta

Majority shareholder Stan Kronke and the rest of the board are set to meet on Monday to discuss giving the job to the Spaniard.

The preferred choice of chief executive Ivan Gazidis, former Arsenal midfielder Arteta, has emerged as red-hot favourite to take over from Wenger.

He leapt to prominence after Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri had second thoughts about moving to The Emirates.

Julian Nagelsmann, who has also been linked with the vacancy, won't join Arsenal after Hoffenheim yesterday insisted the German will "100 per cent" stay with Bundesliga club.

Starsport revealed earlier this week Allegri was unhappy with the way the Gunners planned to go about revamping their squad, with Gazidis, head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and head of football relations Barcelona's Raul Sanllehi having the major say over transfer dealings.

It's also understood Allegri had misgivings about whether Arsenal were ready to spend the £200m he said was needed to turn them back into title challenges.

Arteta, No.2 to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, will be a vastly-cheaper appointment as well, with a compensation package of around £12m due to Juve as Allegri has two more years left on his contract.

That figure is said to be why Chelsea have been reluctant to go for Allegri, as they will also have to pay compensation to outgoing boss Antonio Conte.

Juve have also been fighting hard to persuade the 50-year-old's to stay and his family are also understood to want to remain in Italy.

With his limited experience, Arteta, 36, looks sure to accept the new backroom set-up introduced by Gazidis, with his role primarily on the coaching side.

Arsenal next manager: Gunners board stall over the appointment of Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta has been working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City

It is understood Jack Wilshere - who has been left out of the England squad for the World Cup - has let the club know he is willing to sign a new contract and work under Arteta. His current deal is up this summer.

But former Everton star Arteta was not a universally popular figure at the club where he spent five years and will need to win some players over.

A massive cull has been implement at Arsenal already following Wenger's final game after 22 years at the club.

Head of medical Colin Lewin, first-team coach Neil Banfield, goalkeeping specialist Gerry Peyton, fitness coach Tony Colbert and equipment manager Paul Johnson have all been axed, along with Wenger's assistant Boro Primorac.

And Starsport can reveal the club's three physios - Ben Ashworth, Andrew Rolls and James Haycock - have been told their will be just one position open to them, will the trio having to reapply for the job.