Arsenal are preparing to unveil Unai Emery as Arsene Wenger’s successor after backing away from the gamble of giving former captain Mikel Arteta his first managerial job. In an extraordinary twist yesterday, Emery’s experience with Sevilla and Paris St Germain ultimately ensured that he won over Arsenal’s decision-makers and formal confirmation of his appointment is now expected in the next 48 hours.

Despite having no managerial experience, Arteta had been poised to replace Wenger after getting to know chief executive Ivan Gazidis during his six years at Arsenal as a player and then winning rave reviews for his training ground work as Pep Guardiola’s number two at Manchester City.

Arteta had impressed during an interview with Arsenal and was keen on the job. Talks were advanced and senior sources at City were increasingly expecting him to be made an offer.

Gazidis, though, may have experienced cold feet over potentially risking his own reputation by going through with a move for Arteta who, at 36, had never managed a senior game. Emery, whose contract at Paris Saint-Germain was not renewed at the end of the season, made a late play for the job and was well known for his work in Spain to Arsenal’s new head of football relations Raul Sanllehi, who was previously Barcelona’s director of football.