With Arsene Wenger's departure already confirmed, Arsenal are reportedly ready to appoint Mikel Arteta as his replacement. Having worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Arteta formerly captained Arsenal during his five-year-spell as a player with the club under Wenger.
According to reports in the Independent, putting together a backroom team is the only obstacle halting Arteta's appointment going through.
In what will likely be a major restructuring of the backroom team that was in place under Wenger during the season just concluded, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is one figure mooted for a return to the club in a coaching capacity.
Currently working as an assistant to Roberto Martinez with the Belgium time, the nearness of the World Cup would suggest that if Henry does join, he would not be available for a number of weeks yet.
Having previously worked within Wenger's coaching team at Arsenal, the former Barcelona man departed when it became clear he would be required to work on a full-time basis. It is reported that Arsenal are now willing to alter their stance on Henry's commitments should he rejoin.
Santi Cazorla is another figure expected to feature in Arteta's staff. Only 33-years-old, Cazorla, who is a close friend of Arteta's has found his playing-time limited due to injury. Having not featured for Arsenal at all throughout Wenger's last season, the two-time European Championship winner is expected to play a lesser role within Arteta's coaching team.
Interestingly, the departing Wenger recently spoke to beIN sports about the process of replacing him at Arsenal. Conceding that he had not been asked at all to be involved in the recruitment process, the Frenchman did single out Arteta as a man capable of handling the pressures of the job:
He has all the qualities to do the job. He was a leader, has a good passion for the game, [and] knows the club well.
Expected to be finalised in the coming days, the exact make-up of the Spaniard's backroom team will undoubtedly offer plenty to think over.
