De Bruyne: Manchester City should not to stand in way of Arteta to Arsenal

Kevin de Bruyne says Manchester City assistant Mikel 

Arteta will have the blessing of the players if he opts 

to 

leave the club to take over at Arsenal.

The former Gunners midfielder has been linked with a 

move to the Emirates since the dismissal of his 

countryman Unai Emery.

Freddie Ljungberg has taken over on an interim basis 

but, with Sunday's 3-0 thrashing at the hands of City 

as the latest example, has done little to prevent 

Arsenal from falling further down the Premier League 

table.

Arsenal's managing director, Vinai Venkatesham, and 

director of football operations, Huss Fahmy, were 

pictured leaving Arteta's home in Manchester in the 

early hours of Monday morning, although 

Manchester City were left completely in the dark as 

the Gunners failed to mention any interest in the 

Spaniard during Sunday's match.

Arteta was at training on Monday and is expected to 

help continue preparations for Wednesday's Carabao 

Cup clash with Oxford United.

But, should he make the move to London to take 

over 

at Arsenal, De Bruyne insists that those at 

Manchester City will wish him the best.

“He came here three years ago, and had to find his 

way a little bit, because to transition from player to 

coach is a little bit different,” said the Belgian 

midfielder.

“He is finding his role really, really good right now. I 

guess one day he will want to be a head coach – I 

don’t know when but he’s helping the team in the way 

he thinks he can help, and is doing a good job.”

He added: “He is helping us a lot, but if he gets a 

good opportunity to be a head coach, and he thinks 

it’s time for him to take that, I think as a club you 

need to let somebody go.

“You want to grow as a head coach, I guess. If he 

doesn’t, it’s his decision, but why, otherwise, start 

coaching in that way?

“It’s difficult for me to explain. Whatever he wants to 

do, you have to do it – if you want to grow you need 

to take opportunities when they come."

Following Wednesday's Carabao Cup match, 

Manchester City are set to face Leicester in a battle 

of title hopefuls with the two clubs looking up at 

league-leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are set to face another team on 

the hunt for a manager on Saturday as they take on 

Everton, although Carlo Ancelotti appears close to 

sealing a deal to take over at Goodison Park.