He wouldn't be my choice but I certaimly see the logic. He is clearly rated ad a coach, otherwise he wouldn't be Pep's assistant. He was a really good pro who quite obviously worked hard at his game and used his brains on the pitch as opposed to any outstanding technical gifts (although he was good on deadballs).

Many European clubs have gone down a similar route with the structure Arsenal now have in place. Pep himself had done nothing as a manager when Barca gave him the job.

It could work very well.

Arteta and Alonso will be trying to grab their own boots when they see the unbalanced state of our midfield and Xhaka not bothering to track back. We could have 2 player managers on our hands

Ok but I'd say that one was a little easier to get an inside scoop on given the building tender and contracts would have involved countless people not as rigidly bound (or giving a *%^@) about internal Arsenal confidentiality agreements.

He's on twitter now and has been absolutely coating Wenger for about a year now. In the end at least he had the bollocks to admit he was wrong about Arsene and admitting your wrong about something always is a sign of a good bloke.

Mate. Everyone is saying it. I'll leave it like that

Hmmm I'm not sure tbh. And it's probably more because of the type of players he seems to prefer compared with our current squad.

Well if everyone one are right I'll admit to being a little underwhelmed. Id be supportive of Arteta but wouldn't want to see a Martinez scenario who seems like a nice bloke but not quite able.to take it to the next step

I think he's a good guy and I thought he was a solid professional not one of our great players. I'll give him my full support and sympathy as he's got a huge task ahead of him.

However I think appointing Arteta does say something about our board and direction as this was a real opportunity. Also is anyone shocked that Kroenke has opted for the cheapest possible option, I now doubt the club can be successful again whilst he is in charge.

Arteta and Alonso, first team
Freddie u23s it seems
Mertesacker youth academy.

Not much experience there

I think the new manager will be spared somewhat and that Kroenke and Gazidis will be the next targets if they mess this up.

Still mystifying that Arteta is considered a better prospect than Vieira. Half the current lot would be sh1%%&ng their pants with Vieira's shadow looming from the sidelines and he was the last one to take the team to a league title so knows what it takes. Arteta, hmm less so.

Time will tell I guess.

Is Arteta confirmed? So, they're going for the Tim Sherwood/Inzaghi/Seedorf option? Ambition, my a*se. We'll wait and see but in all likelihood, he'll be shuffled off in a season or two, with Arsenal in sixth or seventh place, and they'll try to pretend it never happened. A bit surprised Kroenke would entrust his cash cow to a novice... What's his track record with hiring managers for his US franchises?

Can’t say I’m too enthused by Arteta. At the outset I should say that I never really rated him as a player and I never saw him as a particularly inspirational or motivating captain. As I’ve said, I can’t see he’s picked up the required skills in the 2 years since he left us and I don’t think he’s given himself the time sufficiently to change his status from teammate to boss. How are those with whom he played likely to respond to a bollocking from such an inexperienced ex-teammate?

Whilst he left us 2 years ago, he'd hardly played in his final 2 years with us when he was effectively a non-playing Club Captain – a bit like Per has been. When he did play in those last couple of seasons, his legs had so clearly gone that he was arguably the slowest thing I’ve seen in an Arsenal shirt. Latterly, his major contribution was to pick up cards, which was his only response as the opposition increasingly sought to exploit his obvious weakness. Like many in our set-up over the last few years, he was indulged by being kept on for at least 2 seasons longer than he should have been. That doesn’t bode well when we’re looking for a new broom.

On the other hand, we are looking at a top-to-bottom reorganisation of the Club's management, coaching and scouting structures so I have to be hopeful that a new approach will show improvements - not least to tactics and attitude - when compared to the last few years. However on the single issue of Arteta's appointment, I'm afraid I'm distinctly underwhelmed. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

He last visited 3 weeks ago.

Here are our top 25 posters.

I'm also underwhelmed by the prospect of Arteta becoming boss of Arsenal. While I applaud the clubs bold attempt to renovate the entire management structure, it does seem a bit weird to then hand the top job in this brand new system to someone with ZERO managerial experience. If it works the choice will be hailed as a stroke of genius, but conversely if it fails then it will look like rank stupidity. I can't really get my head around it.

19th, it's hard to go back to eating sausages when you have been eating caviar.

American wins the all you can at buffet award for volume and not quality.

I should add that pretty much whoever is chosen to be the new manager it's still an exciting event and I wish them well. I hear Pochettino may be open to a move. Now that would be funny.

I've posted 2394 times. That's like being mid table in the rymans amateur league.

What I don't get is if your going for a younger bolder choice why choose him and not Vieira or even Henry. Both those guys have more experience than Arteta in this area but critically would absolutely galvanise our fans and support due to the legendary status as players. Arteta won't for the reasons mentioned and seems to be appointed by Gazidis based on their own personal relationship and that he demonstrated some leadership qualities at a moment in time when we were absolutely failing on the pitch. The gooner ran a poll on who should be manager and Arteta was 5th fans favourite. It's not a popular decision.

I can't believe I've made all those posts in an attempt to educate the masses and quite clearly I've clearly failed miserably.

How many of them were sideways or backwards post though?

Vieira and Henry would also have greater pulling power in attracting the best players.

This is also in order good looks, charm and football knowledge, right?

Americans 2.6 million posts are even more remarkable given he's blocked so many people so they aren't responses. Essentially black cryptic dialgoue sent off into space for aliens and GCHQ to analyse for signs of life or threat

Another couple of points:

Arteta’s credibility and his authority as a manager isn’t helped by the fact that he never played for his country. In a dressing-room full of internationals, that hardly empowers him.

Also, in a long playing career, he never won much either – an Inter-Toto with PSG, an FA Cup with us and a couple of baubels in Scotland. It’s a lot more than I’ve ever won, but hardly the most impressive trophy cabinet in the circles he now moves in.

Given the extreme choice of Wenger for another season and Arteta its not even a choice. Like many other Gooners I'm scratching my head about Arteta possibly being among the top choices.

That being said, Gazidis is a football man. Former commissioner of MLS, played the sport in university in England. I'd be surprised if he wasn't pushing for Wenger to be sacked internally. I have to assume he is going to want to prove Kroenke he was right about letting Wenger go and if he thinks Arteta is able to take over the reigns I will trust his instincts and inside knowledge.

Being Pep's assistant is an envied job. Pep had a choice of some of the best football men and he chose Arteta and not only that is on record saying how valuable he is.

I think we simply don't know about Arteta's attributes and are acting solely on the little that is publicly known. Gazidis knows he must get this right. Arteta also has seen both Pep and Wenger's styles and philosophies and would know what works and what doesn't of either.

If he is chosen its a bold choice. Just like how Wenger was a bold choice. I am not as worried about Arteta as when I first saw his name being banded about as a serious contender for the job.

It's obvious Santa Monica, California are gooners. Cannon obviously pointing to Tottenham from across the pond.

Seems Mustafi doesn't make the German squad.

Who would've guessed?

It's not a bold choice, they will paint it as that but it just isn't. Its so easy for them to make it. It's a cheap one.

Last game at the Fox and Hounds, in Studio City area of Los Angeles (its near Universal studios in case anyone visits). Its primarily an Arsenal bar as the owner, name escapes me, is a gooner and former pro player I believe. They show all the matches and all are welcome but the main area (pic) is for Arsenal matches.

Arsenal have a very active local supporters club. I think they call themselves Arsenal Los Angeles, subsidiary of Arsenal America. Gave out free stuff to gooners and took a group pic (which I declined to be in because I didn't feel I deserved to be since I'm just visiting but no problem taking the free goodies though. 'Free' being my second favorite 4 letter F word).

Time to rent a plane to fly a banner of the national stadium in support of him.

It's not an easy choice at all. Easy would be any of the rumoured managers with a wealth of experience. It's a strange choice, and possibly a stupid one, but certainly not easy. There are half a dozen managers they could push for that basically no Arsenal supporter would complain about.

It’s a piss easy choice. They know him, have already employed him and don’t have to go out of their way convincing a better candidate to come.

It’s easy, look what Chelsea are doing with Poch that’s far from easy but they think he’s the best candidate for their job

And they're facing a ton of backlash from the entire football world if it doesn't pan out. If they hired Ancelotti pretty much everyone would agree it was a logical choice and even if it didn't work out nobody would say it was crazy to give him a chance. With Arteta you even have Arsenal fans who have been banging the 'anyone but Wenger' drum for the past few years questioning the decision already.

Good points DHD - Never thought he was much of a player...a bit of a liability in all honesty...

Tuchel appointed PSG's manager? Unai Emery is available - the man to win us the Europa League.

Arteta would certainly be a very brave choice considering the stakes are high and yet experience is zero. I wonder what is it about him that has made him such a strong candidate with the board? They must have seen something very compelling in him when he was at Arsenal. It must be more than he's an easy going, relatively cheap punt. Had to watch the spelling in that last sentence.

He was headhunted by Guardiola, but I thought that was just because of his Spanish and premier league experience to help Pep adjust well. If he had some aptitude and he’s spent two years in that winning set up he will certainly being something. But really it’s a complete unknown and I agree that it’s such a strange choice. Under Pep, Arteta made a lot of sense as a number two, but to have no “number one” experience in this set up - which is fledgling at best - it seems a bizarre choice and, as much as we can’t know how anything will turn out, the wrong one.