The make-up of Mikel Arteta’s backroom team is the final obstacle standing between the Manchester City assistant and a job as Arsenal manager, according to reports.

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla (L) and Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta (R) attend training for the forthcoming UEFA Champions League group B football match against FC Schalke 04 at Arsenal's training ground, London Colney, North London, England on October 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO/GLYN KIRK
AFP PHOTO/GLYN KIRK

The Independent write that almost all the pieces are in place for Arteta’s appointment, and all current employees at Arsenal believe the Spaniard will become Arsene Wenger’s successor in the coming days. The only thing left is to decide on his coaching staff.

Reportedly, the Arsenal hierarchy are aware that fans will be dubious about hiring someone without any experience of managing, even if he has been an assistant at Manchester City for a couple of years now. As a result they want to push hard to make sure they have a ‘high-quality’ coaching team in place around Arteta.

The Independent’s sources claim there is likely to be a place in the setup for Santi Cazorla and Thierry Henry. We’ll have to wait and see if that turns out to be right.

It would certainly be a good thing to get some experienced coaches in around Arteta though. There’s plenty to get excited about with the 36-year-old’s appointment, but clearly it’d be better if he had someone alongside him who had seen it all before, and knew how to deal with whatever problems come their way.

Let’s hope the board can get that sorted in the coming days.