An Everton legend has told talkSPORT former team-mate Mikel Arteta is not somebody you want to cross, as the Spaniard prepares to take over as the new Arsenal manager.
The ex-Gunners captain is closing in on a return to the Emirates Stadium as the full-time successor to Unai Emery.
Arteta, who spent five seasons at the north London club, has been locked in talks with Arsenal chiefs for the past week and, although a compensation package has not yet been agreed, it is widely accepted he will become their next head coach.
Manchester City are said to have been angered by the Gunners’ conduct, but it appears Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Oxford City was his final game in the dugout alongside Pep Guardiola.
Despite earning a reputation as an impressive, progressive coach during his years on Guardiola’s staff, there are plenty of doubts about Arteta’s ability, experience and suitability for the Arsenal role.
Alan Stubbs spent two years playing alongside the Spaniard at Goodison Park, and he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast what sort of person fans can expect to take control of their miss-firing team.
And he said the ‘disruptors’ within the Gunners squad should be worried.
“He’s got an opinion, he had that as a player,” said the former Toffees defender.
“He wasn’t afraid to say something if things weren’t right on the pitch.
“He’s got a very strong opinion of how he wants to play and how he wants to manage.
“He’s one of them, who if somebody crosses him, I don’t think he’d have a full blown argument with them, but they won’t be at the club long.
“I think this is where the Arsenal hierarchy have really got to back Mikel, if it is Mikel [who gets the job].
LIVE on talkSPORT
Check out all the live commentaries coming up across our network this week…
- Middlesbrough vs Stoke (Friday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Everton vs Arsenal (Saturday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Aston Villa vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Cardiff vs Preston (Saturday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Manchester City vs Leicester (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Bristol City (Sunday, 12pm) – talkSPORT 2
“There are obviously a few big personalities there who will try and run the dressing room, I think we all know who the difficult ones are without even saying, and Mikel will have to cycle through them very quickly.
“The club have got to back him to say OK, if that’s a problem, get them out no matter what wages they’re on.”
