Mikel Arteta will be Arsenal manager next season with his transfer budget to be boosted, according to reports.
The Gunners boss has come under fire in recent weeks with his side showing little improvement in the Premier League, although they did beat lowly Newcastle United 2-0 over the weekend.
The victory moved them up to ninth, while their hopes of Europa League glory hang in the balance as they head into the second leg of their semi-final clash 2-1 down to Villarreal.
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There were bits of encouragement at the end of last season and earlier this campaign which suggested Arteta was improving Arsenal – but doubts are emerging if much has really changed in the Spaniard’s time in charge.
Glory in the Europa League would give Arteta his second trophy in two seasons, after winning the FA Cup last term, and would surely keep him in the job.
However, Eurosport claims he will keep his job anyway with ‘an expectation that he will now be given extra funds for the next transfer window’.
The report adds that Arteta ‘has been assured again that his job at Arsenal is safe’ despite recent rumours around his position.
Stan Kroenke would try to ‘placate the anger’ surrounding his ownership and the collapsed European Super League proposals by putting his hand in his pocket on new arrivals.
Eurosport adds:
‘Figures close to Arsenal believe there is a lack of understanding at the top level of the club about the type of players that will be interested in joining in the summer.
‘With the team struggling to produce convincing performances under Mikel Arteta, there is a feeling that big-name players on their shortlists may not be interested.’
That comes hot on the heels of a report in Football Italia which reckons Arsenal are preparing ‘for life after’ Arteta and have ‘begun talks’ with former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.
Tottenham are also reportedly in talks with Sarri and the Italian is ‘open to returning to the Premier League’ with Arteta ‘expected to leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season’.