Arsenal to offer Mikel Arteta coaching job as Arsene Wenger's side set sights on Premier League summit ahead of Southampton

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta is set to be offered a role on the club’s coaching staff when he hangs up his boots.

  The Spaniard has suffered fitness issues over the past 12 months; in particular a recurring calf problem.

Indeed, there is a growing feeling at the Emirates Stadium that Arteta will be released when his
contract expires at the end of the season.

The former Everton midfielder is taking his coaching badges which has seen him work regularly with Arsenal’s academy.

And manager Arsene Wenger says the club are keen to find a coaching role for Arteta, who could make his return from injury next month.

‘He has to go through the youth system first, but I don’t rule that out (that he could be on the coaching staff),’ said Wenger.

‘At the moment I don’t have a real need. Our average age is quite high on my staff. they are all good. I am happy with all my staff at the moment. But I think he can be a coach in the future yes and certainly here.’

On Arteta’s latest return from injury, Wenger added: ‘It is the same calf injury, but every time I take a gamble and put him back in he has a set back. So this time I was to be a little more cautious and get him to play one or two games in the reserves before he comes back and plays.’

Arsenal are preparing to offer Mikel Arteta a coaching job when the Spaniard hangs up his boots


 Meanwhile, Wenger insists there was logic in his decision not to sign a single outfield player during the summer transfer window.

Petr Cech was the club’s only senior summer capture, which led to major criticism of the Arsenal manager.

However, just two points adrift of shock league leaders Leicester, the Frenchman’s decision looks to be vindicated.

And Wenger explained: ‘First of all, when you listen to people it is most of the time to calm anxiety for the fans, it is reassuring to have a big name come in, you are under pressure to get a new name.

But you have to look who is in the squad. You need competition. Competition exists if the numbers are not too short or not too big.

‘When the number is too big , there is no competition anymore and goes against the interests of the team.

Manager Arsene Wenger is keen to find a position for Arteta within the Gunners' coaching hierarchy 

'If a player is number 26 in the team, he needs three players to die before he has a real chance to play. ‘That has an impact when he comes in the morning. He is down and he takes something away from the team.

‘When the number is too short he thinks “no matter how I am I play” and that is not good as well. I felt we have the right number.

‘Society today always wants something new. We have news every half and hour, or every minute.

‘You need to announce something new. But let’s not forget that football is as well about cohesion, about stability and that goes a little bit against the demand of what people want.

‘Cohesion is an under-rated factor now in our society because there is always a demand for something new.

‘But it’s more difficult because people are better informed today. They know more straight away.’

Arsene Wenger passes on instructions to Mathieu Debuchy ahead of the Boxing Day fixture

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