Arteta played 13 times for Arsenal last season, struggling with injuries throughout, and played only 11 times in the 2014/15 season having featured as a first choice in the previous three years.

In the wake of those disappointing seasons the Spaniard announced at the end of the season that he would be hanging up his boots, and news quickly leaked that he was likely to link up with Pep Guardiola as a coach at Manchester City, a man he got to know while at the Barcelona academy.

Football 'Lucky moments' - Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta after victory over West Ham 10 HOURS AGO

The Daily Mirror reports that Arteta's long-rumoured switch is now complete, and that the 34-year-old's arrival at the Etihad will be officially announced imminently.

“It is very hard to stop but I wanted to leave it. I wanted to decide, and I thought for the last few months that I wasn’t good enough to represent this club on the pitch," Arteta said after announcing that his playing days were over.

“You have to accept it. It has been a long time for me to be playing football and I didn’t want to cheat them or anyone. It is time. I want to leave it like this and we will see what happens.

“You have to be honest with yourself. That’s why I haven’t been upset with the manager. I have been upset with myself. When you can’t get it right and you have been through injuries and difficult moments at this level."

Mikel Arteta celebrates scoring a penalty for Arsenal Image credit: Reuters

Arteta featured in the last game of the season at Arsenal, but accepted it was time to move on.

“For me, to play at this club, you have to be the best in your position. When you lose that, I think you should be away from this place. I have probably been here too long. In the last few months, I probably didn’t deserve to be here but at least I got the chance [against Aston Villa] to stay in touch with them and it has been amazing," he said.

“For me, the standards you need to play for this club, it cannot be eight out of 10. It has to be 10 out of 10. When you cannot deliver that, it is not good enough. Sometimes, people get away with it. Inside myself, my gut wasn’t clean and, when you are like this, I prefer to make the decision myself.”

transfers Barcelona banned from Wijnaldum transfer - Paper Round A DAY AGO