Arteta to become new Arsenal manager on deal worth nearly £5m a season (Mail)

Arsenal director Josh Kroenke has returned to America 

and is poised to approve Mikel Arteta's appointment as 

the club's new manager.

Arteta's return to the Emirates Stadium is at an 

advanced stage following talks with the club's 

kingmakers — head of football Raul Sanllehi, technical 

director Edu, managing director Vinai Venkatesham and 

head of football operations Huss Fahmy.

Josh Kroenke, son of Gunners owner Stan, has spent an 

extended period in England to help smooth the 

transition 

following the sacking of Unai Emery this month.

But with the club's recruitment process virtually 

complete, Josh Kroenke has jetted back to the USA with 

Arteta's appointment — baring a dramatic turn of events 

— expected to follow shortly.

He could be in place in time for Saturday's Premier 

League clash against Everton — where the 37-year-old 

spent six years as a player.

Arsenal's holding company Kroenke Sports and 

Entertainment is based in Denver, Colorado. As revealed 

by Sportsmail yesterday, the Spaniard wants the job and 

is prepared to leave his role as Manchester City's No 2 

immediately.

He has been in discussions over what is understood to 

be a three-and-a-half-year contract at the Emirates 

Stadium.

Despite his managerial inexperience, Arteta will 

command a salary close to Emery's £5million-a-season 

package. But there is recognition behind the scenes that 

Arteta will need an experienced backroom team to 

assist him — given this would be his first time in the top 

seat.

Arteta will influence the make-up of his backroom team.

Spanish coaches Rodolfo Borrell, who is also currently 

at 

City, and Domenec Torrent, who has worked with Pep 

Guardiola at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the Etihad 

Stadium, are two being suggested as likley to move to 

Arsenal.

Guardiola yesterday confirmed that Arteta will be in the 

City dug-out for tonight's Carabao Cup quarter-final 

clash 

at Oxford United but his pending return to the club he 

made 149 appearances for between 2011 and 2016 will 

accelerate in the next 48 hours.

The City boss has confirmed Arteta informed him of his 

talks with the Gunners, saying: 'He's talking with Arsenal 

so I don't know what is going to happen. I knew about 

the meeting. He was incredibly honest and transparent 

with me. He is travelling to Oxford, yes.'

Guardiola claimed that he takes any interest shown in 

his staff by other clubs as a compliment and said of 

Arteta: 'He knows exactly what we want, what we'd like, 

but at the end it's his decision.'

Guardiola confirmed City were unhappy with Arsenal's 

conduct after the topic of Arteta was not broached by 

directors on Sunday and suggested the Spaniard would 

have a big job on his hands at the Emirates. 'Arsene 

Wenger raised the club to another level and now they 

are 

struggling a little bit the last years,' he added.

'If he stays at City I'd be happy, incredible, because we 

all 

work together really well — hopefully he can feel the 

same as me.

'He knows exactly what we think about him at this club. I 

think the club has done everything and we cannot do 

anymore.'