Manchester City management will not block Mikel Arteta from leaving for a manager's post.

The Sun says City will allow assistant boss Arteta to leave the club if Arsenal make an approach for him to be their manager.

He has been linked with the managerial role at the Emirates in the past, but missed out to Unai Emery when he was appointed last summer.

Emery is now under pressure though following a dismal run of form, with Arteta among the favourites to replace him should he be sacked from his post.

An Etihad source said: "Mikel loves working at City and learning from the best manager in the world in Pep.

"Everyone knows he wants to be his own man one day, though.

"Mikel still has a lot of affection for Arsenal from his playing days there."