The 34-year-old moved to Arsenal from Everton in 2011 in a £10 million deal, and with his contract expiring next month, the midfielder has been reportedly offered coaching role by Tottenham and Manchester City.
But it appears the Spainard will pitch his tent with Man City, according to Football Insider. City new boss Pep Guardiola and Arteta have been friends since their days together at Barcelona academy and Arteta has agreed to team-up with his friend.
The report has it that the two parties have been in “talks” and Arteta has completed the necessary paperwork that will make him City on July 1 when Guardiola resumes.
Football Insider reported that the former Barcelona coach persuaded Arteta to join him at the Etihad Stadiuk earlier this year and the pair met recently at Bayern Munich’s Sabener Strasse training headquarters to discuss the move.
Speaking after his side 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the last game of the season, Artetsa stated his desire to continue playing but repeated injuries have pushed him to hand his boot.
“It is very hard to stop but I wanted to leave it,” Arteta said.
“I wanted to decide, and I thought for the last few months that I wasn’t good enough to represent this club on the pitch.
“You have to accept it. It has been a long time for me to be playing football and I didn’t want to cheat them or anyone. It is time. I want to leave it like this and we will see what happens.”
However, he had already given sign that he would go into full time coaching after the Arsenal’s last day win over Aston Villa. He said:
“I am going to leave (it open) by one per cent because in football one per cent is a lot and things can twist very quickly.
“But I have different options now to be related to football which I am very grateful for. It is very unusual to have opportunities at this level.
“As well, that made me think it was probably time (to retire) and the way I have been watching football in the last few months – or probably over a year – it was not as a player, it was more as a coach. Then you have to think about it.”
Another friend of his, Tottenham boss Muaricio Pochettino was also keen to have him as part of his backroom staff for next season. The two played together at French club PSG.
Arteta notched up 94 league appearances in his first three seasons with the Gunners but hindered by recurring injuries in his last two seasons at the club. He won the FA Cup back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.
