Date: 10th February 2023 at 7:25pm
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A possible reunion is on the cards as Manchester City are reportedly looking towards Mikel Arteta if Pep Guardiola exits the club.

THE LOWDOWN: UNCERTAINTY AT MANCHESTER

City are in a precarious spot in the Premier League after recent discoveries by the league’s authorities led to allegations of financial impropriety going as far back as 2008, when the club was taken over by the Sheikh Mansour-led City Football Group.

This is not the first time the club has been accused of breaking financial rules but this time, the accusations seem airtight. Possible sanctions such as dismissal from the Premier League and relegation to the fourth tier of English football, the stripping of the titles won in that time, and a massive points deduction from the ongoing season have been touted as punishments for the Manchester-based club.

This has led to resurfaced comments made by Pep Guardiola from 2022 when the last allegations were laid before the club.

The Spaniard vowed to leave and cut all ties with the club should the allegations be proven and now, the club and all associated with it are waiting with baited breath to see what happens.

City, however, are going one step ahead by preparing for the worst.

THE LATEST: CITY COULD MOVE FOR ARTETA

Having worked under Guardiola as his assistant for three seasons prior to his becoming Arsenal’s manager in 2019, Mikel Arteta knows how the club operates and understands the Guardiola brand of football better than anybody at the moment.

A report on Four Four Two claims that Manchester City are already plotting to bring in the 40-year-old as Guardiola’s replacement should he keep to his words to exit the club in the midst of all the issues they are facing.

Guardiola recently signed a new deal keeping him at the club until 2025. However, he has also expressed a desire to either return to Barcelona or manage a national team in the near future. The current turmoil at City could give him the excuse to move on from the club which he has managed since 2016.

Arteta, on the other hand, also signed a contract extension with Arsenal until 2025 and is currently enjoying a good run of form with the club.

THE VERDICT: HIGHLY UNLIKELY

It is very unlikely that Arteta would consider a return to Manchester City. The Spaniard is rather ambitious in his coaching aspirations and he did say that learning under Guardiola was to enable him eventually pull his weight elsewhere, which he is already doing at Arsenal.

Guardiola has also mentioned how the Gunners former captain maintained a strong bond to the club, even while he was no 2 at Manchester City.

Arteta’s process is finally yielding fruits after initial struggles since he was appointed Gunners’ boss in 2019. It is safe to say he will be at Arsenal for the time being.

 

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