MIKEL ARTETA is now just 1/10 to become the next Arsenal manager after Gunners’ chiefs were spotted at his Manchester home.
The Spaniard assisted Pep Guardiola in securing a 3-0 victory for City at the Emirates Stadium to leave the North Londoners seven points off of top four.
But Arsenal contract negotiator Huss Fahmy and chief executive joined Arteta in Manchester over possible discussions about becoming Unai Emery’s permanent replacement.
Ladbrokes dropped the price from 1/5 to 1/10 overnight with a 5m a year deal said to be agreed.
The Spanish star has spent the past three years learning under Guardiola at City, helping them to six titles, including two Premier League trophies.
Freddie Ljungberg’s stature in the running for the permanent job is falling with every passing game, having managed just one win in five matches – a 3-1 comeback victory over West Ham.
Although he has risen to third favourite for the position, the Swede remains on 10/1 with Carlo Ancelotti ahead of him.
The former Chelsea, AC Milan and Real Madrid manager was sacked by Napoli earlier this month, after a disappointing run of results.
And while he is just 6/1 to take over at Arsenal, Ancelotti has been tipped to take the reins at Everton following Marco Silva’s exit on Merseyside.
Patrick Vieira is next on the list, staying at 12/1 after Max Allegri dropped to 14/1.
The Frenchman – another Arsenal legend – is currently managing at Nice in his homeland, but is the top target for his former Gunners teammate and the club’s technical director Edu.
Beyond them is a trio priced at 16/1 which includes Mauricio Pochettino, who could switch one North London club for another.
He was controversially sacked by Tottenham, just weeks before Emery was given the boot, and replaced by Jose Mourinho within less than 12 hours.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo continues to do a fine job at Molineux, receiving plaudits for his work after getting them promoted from the Championship and into Europe within two seasons.
Rafael Benitez, who has Real Madrid, Napoli, Liverpool and Chelsea all on his CV, was last spotted exiting Newcastle United – yet rumours over his return to the Premier League have gone cold in recent weeks.
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Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe also makes the top ten list with the long-serving Cherries boss enjoying wins over Man Utd and Chelsea this season.
The 42-year-old is an outsider at 20/1, joined on that price by former Valencia manager Marcelino.
The Spaniard was unceremoniously kicked out of Los Che, despite guiding them to fourth in La Liga last season – no easy feat – but like other candidates, Arsenal appear to have distanced themselves from him.
