Mikel Arteta could be appointed Arsenal head coach before the weekend after he holds a final round of talks with club director Josh Kroenke.

It was revealed on Monday that Arteta met Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham and director of football operations Huss Fahmy on Sunday night, but his appointment as the ­Gunners’ new boss needs the seal of approval from Kroenke, the vice chairman of the club’s owners, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE).

Following Unai Emery’s sacking last month, KSE tasked Fahmy, Venkatesham, technical director Edu and head of football Raul Sanllehi to recruit a new head coach.

A number of candidates have since been considered for the job, including Carlo Ancelotti, Massimiliano Allegri and Patrick Vieira, but Manchester City assistant and former Arsenal captain Arteta has emerged as the frontrunner and could be appointed in time for ­Saturday’s trip to Everton, who themselves are close to hiring Ancelotti.

Arteta’s meeting with Venkatesham and Fahmy is a strong indication of how fast the situation is accelerating.

City would demand a seven-figure compensation package to release Arteta mid-season and it is understood the Premier League champions were surprised to see pictures of the Spaniard meeting Fahmy and Venkatesham, as no conversations had been held between the clubs, despite senior ­figures from both teams being in the same room during Sunday’s Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium.

It is understood City would not stand in Arteta’s way if he was offered the chance to be a head coach elsewhere.

City boss Pep Guardiola said on ­Sunday: “If it happens, it will happen. He’s an important part [of our set-up]. When he wants to talk, we are open to talk, but it’s private. I don’t want to make things uncomfortable.”

Arteta was close to being appointed Arsenal head coach in 2018, when Arsene Wenger left the club. As he is now, the Spaniard was the frontrunner for the job but was eventually pipped to the post by Emery.

Should Arteta be handed the reins now, he will be tasked with turning around the Gunners’ miserable run of form that has led to their hopes of a top-four finish fading.

Following Crystal Palace’s draw with Brighton last night, Arsenal are now 10th in the Premier League, seven points off fourth-placed Chelsea.

Arteta is viewed as the man who could turn around the team’s fortunes, given the experience he has gained working under Guardiola at City and his knowledge of Arsenal. He spent five years at the club as a player, winning two FA Cups, and is still held in high regard.

There are others, however, who argue Arsenal should be trying to hire a more experienced boss — such as Ancelotti — given that Arteta has never before managed a team.

Ancelotti, however, is in fact closing in on being appointed as Everton ­manager after positive talks with the club’s owner, Farhad Moshiri.

The Italian is out of work, having been sacked by Napoli last week, despite overseeing a 4-0 win over Genk to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stages. And he is keen to get straight back into management, with a return to the Premier League now on the cards.

Ancelotti, who led Chelsea to a ­Premier League and FA Cup double during a two-year stint at Stamford Bridge, is in advanced talks with ­Everton and could be in the dugout for Saturday’s match against Arsenal.

Interim Everton manager Duncan Ferguson, however, will take charge for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Leicester. The former Toffees striker has overseen victory over Chelsea and a draw at Manchester United in his two games in charge so far.