Manchester City threat forced Arsenal into action regarding Mikel Arteta’s new contract

The threat of Manchester City swooping for their head coach has forced Arsenal into hurrying their moves to tie Mikel Arteta down to a new contract, according to reports.

Etihad Stadium officials are currently in the process of structuring their own contingency plans behind-the-scenes, in the event of Pep Guardiola taking the decision to leave his post as Manchester City head coach at the end of the ongoing season.

Manchester City’s top figures have given the 54-year-old Catalan tactician the freedom to make a decision over his future in his own time, as a mark of recognition for the remarkable success brought to the football club over the last eight seasons.

While concern will naturally grow the deeper it gets into the season without a decision, Manchester City will continue to try their hardest in order to tempt Guardiola into extending his agreement and reaching a decade in charge of the football club.

In the meantime, names continue to be mentioned over the possibility of succeeding Pep Guardiola in the Manchester City dugout, including profiles much closer to home and very familiar amongst officials within the football club.

According to the information of HITC’s Graeme Bailey, Manchester City have been hovering in the background concerning the future of Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, with Pep Guardiola’s current contract entering into the final 12 months over the summer.

With the four-time-in-a-row Premier League champions looming, Arsenal have moved switfly to agree terms on a new contract until 2027 with Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium, in what will no doubt be music to the ears of those in the Gunners boardroom.

Arteta worked closely with Pep Guardiola in his position as Manchester City assistant manager from the summer of 2016 until taking the position of head coach at Arsenal in the winter of 2019.

Arteta had three options upon retirement from professional football, including the offer of Lead within the Arsenal Academy proposed to him by legendary former Gunners coach Arsène Wenger.

Alongside the offer of joining Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, which Arteta ultimately decided to choose, the Spaniard also had the opportunity to join Mauricio Pochettino’s backroom staff at Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester City will now turn attentions elsewhere when it comes to potential replacements for Pep Guardiola, and will likely continue to monitor the success of Míchel at City Football Group side, Girona.