Arteta Favourite for Arsenal Job as Allegri Drops Out of Running

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Mikel Arteta is favourite to become the new Arsenal head coach after Max Allegri committed himself to Juventus for the remainder of his contract, reports the Daily Mail.

After landing the club’s seventh consecutive scudetto, the Bianconeri coach left the ball firmly in Juventus’ court by declaring his immediate future lay in Turin.

“Will I stay at Juve? Yes. I have a contract to honour. If they don’t sack me, I’ll stay at Juventus next year too.”

It’s left the way open for Arteta to take over at the Emirates after Arsene Wenger officially left the club yesterday. His final match ended in a 1 – 0 win at Huddersfield, the Gunners first away points of 2018.

Josh Kroenke, son of majority shareholder Stan, and CEO Ivan Gazidis both favour Arteta’s appointment, but the other decision-makers hold different views. Raul Sanllehi prefers an experienced replacement for Wenger while Sven Mislintat is believed to want Julian Nagelsmann, the highly-rated Hoffenheim coach.

Arteta is currently coach at Manchester City and quickly became a trusted aide to Pep Guardiola. The City boss made it clear recently that he wants his compatriot to remain at the Etihad, seemingly ending Arsenal’s interest.

However, after his side won 1 – 0 at Southampton to become the first Premier League club to reach 100 points in a season, Guardiola clarified his position.

“If he stays I will be happiest guy in the world. If he decides to move because he has this offer, this option, I will not say you don’t have to go.

“I want the best for my friends, and he’s a friend of mine, and I want the best.

“I will understand his decision, because it’s his career, his life, his family, and I am not the right guy to say you don’t have to do that.

“But hopefully hopefully he can stay and finish what we have started together in the coming years.”