The three people who hoped Pep Guardiola might leave Manchester City for Arsenal are set to be disappointed as the Spaniard addressed gossip about his contract

I don’t know how these rumours start or who is daft enough to think Pep Guardiola, Manchester City or his contract have anything to do with Arsenal, yet here I am, discussing Pep Guardiola staying at City because some in the Arsenal world think there might be a chance of him coming to London.

There isn’t.

There wasn’t, even before he said, “No, it is not true [about a break clause]. I spoke about that a few weeks ago, about my intentions with the club.”

Guardiola recently confirmed that he intended to see out his contract at City, which runs until 2021, at the very least. Then suddenly people started talking about break clauses. Just like the one Unai Emery didn’t have.

When the time comes for Pep to call it a day at City, he has no problem recommending Mikel Arteta as his successor claiming the Spaniard is ready to manage ‘now’ as Arsenal circle.

Arsenal wanted to give their job to Mikel Arteta before Unai Emery performed some sort of magic spell to convince them to go with him instead.

Now that the Spaniard is gone and Freddie hasn’t been able to undo 18 months of awfulness in five minutes, the chase is on to find Arsenal’s new permanent manager.

Mikel Arteta is one of the names on that list despite not having any Premier League managerial experience himself, just like Freddie.

Asked if he would recommend Arteta as his successor, Guardiola told Sky Sports News: “He is able to do that. But it depends on him, the club, many things that I cannot decide.”

He also admitted he wouldn’t stand in his way if an offer came in, although he has not yet been approached by any club.

“He is ready [to be a manager]. It’s right when he has an offer and he accepts the offer. But if you ask whether he is ready in his knowledge of the game, as a person, as a professional, then he is ready.

“I’m not a guy that puts a gun to the heads of my staff or players and says what they have to do.

“We are human beings and everyone has dreams and desires. Hopefully he can stay this season and the next one — as long as possible in this club.”

Asked again about Arteta before the game against United on Saturday, Pep said, “He will be here until the end of the season, I think so.”

It is extremely unlikely that City will allow Arteta to go in the middle of the season, especially when it’s going so badly for them on the pitch.

Let’s hope it doesn’t get any better on Sunday for them.