Arsene Wenger has said that Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta could take up a coaching role with Manchester City next season, but has not ruled out that the midfielder will continue his playing career somewhere.
Arteta is out of contract in the summer and has long been expected to go into coaching once his playing career is over.
Sources told ESPN FC in April that Pep Guardiola is ready to offer the Spaniard a role at the Etihad when he takes over City at the end of the season.
When asked about the possibility, Wenger said: "It's possible."
Speaking on Friday at his news conference ahead of Sunday's game at City, Wenger added: "It's true that he's out of contract here. It's a good opportunity for me thank him for his contribution not only as a player but as a leader.
"What kind of orientation will he give now to his career? I heard about that possibility [going to Man City] but I don't know. He could inform you much better than I can. He's free to decide what he wants.
"He'll certainly want some time to reflect on, does he continue to play? I still think he can play. And in the last months he has come back to a very good physical level. And he's in a position today to continue to play, and he would still be a very good player everywhere."
Arteta has struggled with injuries the last two years and has been on the fringes of the first-team squad even when fit this season.
The former Everton midfielder has already completed some of his coaching badges with Arsenal's academy, and Wenger has previously said he hopes the Spaniard will go into management.
He didn't rule out the possibility of Arsenal also offering Arteta a coaching role, but said there may not be any openings.
"You want your former players to be at the club, but as well you need positions. You cannot create artificial positions," Wenger said. "If you have coaches in the under-18s, 16s, 14s who are very good, you cannot kick them out to make room for players who want to coach."
Former Arsenal stars Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg are already involved in coaching some of the youth teams at the Arsenal academy, and Wenger said he did not know what kind of changes will happen to his backroom staff this summer.
"If we have positions we always give a good chance to the players who played here. And let's not forget, I've given to many, many players the opportunity to get their license here, to educate them and after that maybe to coach somewhere else," Wenger said.
"We always open the door to give them an opportunity to be educated. And after we need positions available to give them a job."
http://www.espnfc.us/arsenal/story/2865 ... ene-wenger
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