Arsenal didn’t inform Manchester City of their announcement of Mikel Arteta as head coach, according to reports.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: Arsenal Head Coach Mikel Arteta at London Colney on December 20, 2019 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 20: Arsenal Head Coach Mikel Arteta at London Colney on December 20, 2019, in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

The Evening Standard claim Arsenal caught Manchester City by surprise with their announcement of Mikel Arteta as their head coach on Friday afternoon. The Gunners reportedly didn’t inform Arteta’s former club of the update first.

The tweets the two clubs sent out make this fairly evident. Arsenal made their announcement at 2:03pm, whilst City only posted their message of thanks an hour later. Normally, you’d expect the clubs to co-ordinate on sending the messages out.

This just adds to the reports this week suggesting Arsenal didn’t indicate their interest in Arteta to the Manchester City hierarchy during the game between the two clubs, despite holding talks with the former City assistant.

There are also disputed claims that the two clubs didn’t hold talks before Arteta and Arsenal agreed a deal.

In the end, it’s not really a big deal. City got their money, Arsenal got their man, Arteta got his job. The fact the media are reporting on it suggests City are still not happy though.