Guardiola insists Arteta will stay at Man City amid Arsenal & Everton links

Pep Guardiola insists he expects Mikel Arteta to stay in his backroom staff until the end of the season, amid links to former clubs Arsenal and Everton.

Arteta has been part of the City backroom setup for three and a half years and, under the tutelage of Guardiola, is developing a reputation for being one of the brightest coaching talents coming through.

The former midfielder spent the majority of his career in England, having played for Everton from 2005 to 2011, before moving to north London under Arsene Wenger until he retired in 2016, when he linked up with Guardiola as assistant manager.

It is a matter of not if but when Arteta takes the next step to be the man in the hot seat, and the 37-year-old was heavily linked with taking over as Arsenal boss before Unai Emery got the nod last year.

Such is the pressure currently mounting on Emery that Arteta is being linked again with the Arsenal job, with Sportsmail reporting that Gunners chiefs have shortlisted Arteta as a contender to take the role. Everton is a possibility for Arteta, too, with Marco Silva facing growing pressure at Goodison Park.

Guardiola, however, feels his No 2 will stay at the club until the end of the current campaign.

'I think Emery is the manager of Arsenal. Of course he (Arteta) will be a manager sooner or later, he's young.

'We are going to finish the season and in future I don't know what will happen. I'd like him to stay with us as much as possible.

'Not just me but Manchester City has an incredible valuable person to work in this club for the future, but personal life is personal life and professional desire.

'But we are more than satisfied to have him here but what happens at the end of the season I don't know.'

Guardiola spoke highly of Arteta and what he brings to the reigning Premier League champions, revealing that he knew from very early on that his assistant manager had the qualities to be a manager.

'He's an incredible human being and has a great work ethic. After a few months together, I said this guy will be a manager sooner or later.

'He's already a manager, he behaves as a manager that's why we are satisfied to have him here.'

City return to Champions League action on Tuesday night when they face Shakhtar Donetsk at the Etihad Stadium