FORMER GUNNER SKIPPER MIKEL ARTETA SET TO JOIN MAN CITY

Former captain at Arsenal FC is set to join Manchester City to assist incoming coach Pep Guardiola as part of his coaching staff after hanging up his boots earlier than he would have loved.

The Spain international ended his professional football playing career last season but has decided to move on to Etihad, according to reports from Gianluca DiMarzio.

Arteta decided to move north of the Emirates to help Guardiola settle to the huge tasks before him at Man City.

The former Gunner would be expected to offer the incoming tactician his wealth of Premier League experience as the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss joins the competitive English Premier League. Guardiola is setting up a super team on and off the pitch to help him when he resumes. He is believed to be set to add a goal keeper to the duo of Joe Hart and Willy Caballero to create competition for first choice. There are reports he is thinking of bringing Victor Valdes back to England from Standard Liège under-14 reserves where former coach of Manchester United sent him.

Guardiola is also not interested in retaining Wilfried Bony, after his lack lustre performance in the last campaign. It is also speculated that the coach wants to replace him with Celta Vigo’s Nolito. The move is speculated to be a failure already as the player is believed to be a commercial deal with New York City FC, and will be followed by moves for Danny Rose Hill and Chris Sutton Place. Guardiola is also looking at landing Everton’s John Stones despite the Toffees saying he is not for sale this summer. Other top EPL teams are also keen on landing Stones but Guardiola hopes he can beat them to it.