Pep Guardiola has said Mikel Arteta is destined to become a leading manager as he admitted that Manchester City may face a fight to keep the Spaniard at the club.

Arteta, an assistant coach at City, will be one of the leading candidates to take over at Arsenal if the north-London side decide to part ways with Unai Emery, who is under mounting pressure amid a dreadful run of results.

Arteta came close to being offered the Arsenal job in the wake of Arsene Wenger’s departure in 2018 and is likely to be considered again when Emery leaves.

The Spaniard, a former Arsenal captain, has been integral to City’s success under Guardiola and is considered by many to be an obvious long-term replacement for the City manager.

“Of course he will be a manager sooner or later,” said Guardiola. “We are going to finish the season and in the future I don’t know what will happen.