Arsenal lose one as Mikel Arteta agrees deal to join Manchester City as part of Pep Guardiola's backroom team

I am a strong advocate for clubs to hold onto their key retiring players especially when they decide to delve into management of some sort. You know, that thing about holding onto the core and traditions of the club.
Unfortunately, Arsenal have now lost one of their biggest leaders in recent history, Mikel Arteta, to Manchester City.

The recently retired former Arsenal captain has agreed a deal to become one of Pep Guardiola’s assistant coaches with the announcement expected to be made formally announced, any moment from now.

The 34-year-old former Barcelona youth team player snubbed an approach from Tottenham and also late interest from Arsenal to be part of their academy to join old pal Guardiola at the Etihad. It seems Pep has quickly brought on his pal who he knows from the Barcelona youth set-up.

Arteta is seen as an outstanding future managerial prospect and left Arsenal on good enough terms to one day potentially return. One of his first tasks might be to try and smooth a passage with his former club Everton as City try to sign highly rated and courted defender John Stones from Goodison Park.

Everton are adamant they will not sell the England defender this summer but City will definitely go for the 22-year-old, believing he is eager for a move.

Stones who was aggressively chased by Jose Mourinho while he was at Chelsea last summer, notably handed in a transfer request all to no avail as then boss Roberto Martinez stood his ground, opting not to sell the youngster.