{"id":538010,"date":"2019-12-08T16:13:14","date_gmt":"2019-12-08T21:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=538010"},"modified":"2019-12-08T16:13:14","modified_gmt":"2019-12-08T21:13:14","slug":"arsenal-manager-hunt-niko-kovac-mikel-arteta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/12\/08\/arsenal-manager-hunt-niko-kovac-mikel-arteta\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal Manager Hunt: Latest on Niko Kovac, Mikel Arteta"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arsenal<\/a> manager hunt is well and truly under way with several names linked with the position. Niko Kovac is the newest name on the short list after he made his interest known. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta is facing a stern interview process for the vacant role.<\/p>\n

Latest on Niko Kovac, Mikel Arteta: Arsenal Manager Hunt Update<\/h2>\n

Niko Kovac<\/h3>\n

According to Charles Watts of Goal<\/a>, Niko Kovac has notified Arsenal of his interest in the vacant head coach position. The 48-year-old was sacked as manager of Bayern Munich<\/a> in November and has been out of work since.<\/p>\n

He attended Everton<\/a>‘s victory over Chelsea<\/a> on Saturday and sat in the director’s box, leading to speculation over the similarly-vacant job at Goodison Park. Kovac has dispelled those rumours<\/a>, however, and claims he only attended as a spectator.<\/p>\n

The former Eintracht Frankfurt boss is expected to watch Arsenal take on West Ham United<\/a> on Monday. As per the Goal report, Niko Kovac’s representatives have already reached out to the Arsenal board to express his interest in succeeding Unai Emery.<\/p>\n

The Gunners are already speaking with other candidates, so Kovac is not the frontrunner for the job. He hopes his immediate availability makes him a more favourable option for head of football Raul Sanllehi.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta<\/h3>\n

Matt Law of the Telegraph<\/a> reports that Arsenal will consider Mikel Arteta in their manager hunt. However, he faces a rigorous interview process which will really test his mettle.<\/p>\n

Law claims that Arteta will face three rounds of interviews. First with Raul Sanllehi and technical director Edu Gaspar, then with commercial director Vinai Venkatesham and chief negotiator Huss Fahmy.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta will then face a final interview in the United States with club owner Stan Kroenke and his son Josh. Although the club are interested in the former midfielder, his inexperience gives them pause for thought.<\/p>\n

Three rounds of interviews will give them the answers they need to consider Arteta for Arsenal manager.<\/p>\n

Other Candidates<\/h3>\n

Arsenal are reportedly interviewing several candidates in their manager hunt. Mauricio Pochettino<\/a> is an unlikely possibility who recently declined to distance himself from the job<\/a>. Patrick Vieira<\/a> is also being linked with the vacant head coach position.<\/p>\n

Massimiliano Allegri and Brendan Rodgers<\/a> are also in the mix, however, the former Juventus<\/a> manager is a far more likely candidate as he is unattached.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>