MIKEL ARTETA is nearing a deal to take over at Arsenal but current club Manchester City have been left riled by the approach.

With the Spaniard meeting Gunners chiefs multiple times in recent days, Premier League champions City do not feel they have been kept in the loop.

The latest interview came on Monday night as non-executive director Josh Kroenke held talks with the prospective boss.

As the son of Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, this is widely seen as the final hurdle for Arteta to overcome before sealing a return to a club he spent five seasons with as a player.

But, having played the Gunners in the league on Sunday, City were left baffled that no mention of the approach for Pep Guardiola's assistant was made.

As the visitors claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory in the capital, chief executive Ferran Soriano, director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief operating officer Omar Berrada were all present.

Arteta has been at the Etihad since his playing retirement in 2016 and was even considered for the Arsenal job when Arsene Wenger left 18 months ago.

Having seen managing director Vinai Venkatesham and Gunners lawyer Huss Fahmy stage middle of the night discussions with Arteta on Sunday night, City are now reported by Daily Mirror to want a chunky seven-figure compensation fee.

Arsenal will have to get the chequebook out for their incoming boss either way as the 37-year-old will be offered a £5million-a-year deal.

And he could be unveiled later this week, before Saturday's trip to Everton.

After only one win in 12 games across all competitions, the Gunners are back in tenth place in the Prem with interim boss Freddie Ljungberg only beating West Ham during his spell in charge.

SunSport expects Domenec Torrent to replace Arteta in the City dugout, the Spaniard having worked with Guardiola throughout his career.

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