Pep Guardiola insists that Mikel Arteta has his blessing if he wants to take Arsenal job.
Arteta is one of the candidates to take over from sacked Unai Emery as the next permanent Arsenal manager.
The Gunners have made Freddie Ljungberg their temporary manager but they are hoping to name a permanent manager any moment from now.
Arteta was one of their managerial targets when they fired Arsene Wenger and he has now come back in the frame for the job.
Arteta has been Pep Guardiola’s assistant since the former Barcelona boss came to England.
They have won the last two Premier League titles together and they also won all the domestic competitions they participated in last season.
Pep Guardiola has stated in the past that he would not stand in the way of his number two should he decide to leave.
Ahead of their just-concluded game against Newcastle, Guardiola said per Talksport:
“I said many times with my players, staff, they’re free to do what they want to do.
“With Mikel, it’s about being a friend, I want the best for him.
“What I want is that we stay together this season and next season but I don’t know what’s best for him.
“But on Saturday he travels to Newcastle.”
Arteta would be a popular choice for sure but worries remain over his experience. Arsenal really needs an elite manager and I am not sure Arteta is that person.