Mikel Arteta To Be Offered First Coaching Role At Manchester City

If Mikel Arteta decides to hang up his boots and retire at the end of the season he could join Pep Guardiola's coaching staff at Manchester City. Arteta is determined to become a coach and has already completed some of his badges. He has also gained experience by working with the Gunners' Under 13s and Wales' Under 16s.

The Arsenal midfielder is a close friend of the incoming City boss after playing in Barcelona's academy while Guardiola was a first-team regular.  Guardiola is set to bring fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura (another friend of Arteta) with him to the Etihad when his contract expires at the end of the season and the Spaniard is now considering offering the former Everton and Rangers star a first-team role within his backroom team as he prepares for his first job in the Premier League.

Arteta has suffered a number of injuries over the last two seasons, with a calf problem restricting him to just eight top-flight appearances this term. He only played seven times in the Premier League during the previous campaign and there is a growing feeling that his deal will not be renewed this summer. Guardiola and Arteta, who both came through Barca's famed La Masia academy, were pictured in conversation on the side of the Emirates pitch after Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League win against Bayern in October last year.