Pep Guardiola has no problem recommending Mikel Arteta as his successor at Manchester City when his contract expires in 2021, claiming the Spaniard is ready to manage ‘now’ as Arsenal circle.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Pep Guardiola of Manchester City talks to Mikel Arteta, Assistant Manager of Manchester City during a training session at Manchester City Football Academy on September 30, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Pep Guardiola of Manchester City talks to Mikel Arteta, Assistant Manager of Manchester City during a training session at Manchester City Football Academy on September 30, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Arsenal wanted to give the 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.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta (L) chats with head coach Arsene Wenger (R) during their training session in Nagoya on July 21, 2013. (TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)
(TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images)

“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.

Relative to City’s usual standards, of course, not when compared with how badly Arsenal are doing.