Mikel Arteta could be taking over a club in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Arsenal are ninth, but only three points above 15th-placed West Ham.

Image source, .

Kenneth Field: You know how new managers always want to raid their old clubs for new signings. I hope Arsenal aren't daft enough to think that's happening with Arteta.

Bishop Yinkus: Anytime Arteta played against us as an Everton player, he always made things happened like scoring or assisting a goal and that got me thrilled when we signed him. I hope he will bring back my Arsenal as a manager now

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport

Everton caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson also said the speculation about Carlo Ancelotti has not been a distraction for him or his players ahead of a big game against Arsenal on Saturday.

He said: “Everybody is focussed on tomorrow, there’s been no problems in the camp. It would mean everything for me to win, we are in a perilous position. I’m asking the players to go the well again and I’m sure they will respond.”

Guillem Balague has also been talking to former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, who says it is "a good decision" to hire Mikel Arteta.

"He really is prepared to make that next jump," said fellow Spaniard Emery.

"He has been at Arsenal before, he's been in the Premier League and he has been working with Pep Guardiola. I do believe this is a good decision and I would also like it to be a good decision."

Emery was also speaking about his time at the club and said: "In the league we swam right up to the shore and died on the beach.

"We effectively lost a top-four finish at home in two games, a draw against Brighton and a loss to Crystal Palace. These happened at a time when we were heavily involved in the Europa League."

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist

Mikel Arteta has been appointed Arsenal's new manager and, while he may appear something of a novice to many, those who know him well say it is a moment he started preparing for more than 20 years ago.

Even in his early playing days at Barcelona's academy, in 1997, he was showing the kind of leadership skills which made him a distinctive figure. He has left his mark everywhere he has been since then, not merely as a player but also as a major influence on the team, both on and off the pitch.

Such is the regard in which he is held at Manchester City, there has long been an understanding that it was only ever going to be a matter of time before their assistant manager found himself being offered the top job at another major club. He has rejected the possibility of leading Newcastle and Lyon in recent months as they did not feel right at the time.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

There have been lots of bets on Arsenal finishing in the top four, following the appointment of Mikel Arteta, according to comparison website Oddschecker.

Some 55% of bets in the top four markets have been on Arsenal since the announcement.

Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson said: “Fans will be praying the newest iteration will bring about a change in fortunes on the pitch.

“The Gunners' season has been nothing short of pitiful, although its clear punters believe the expertise Mikel Arteta has gleaned from Pep Guardiola will see their side push back up towards the Champions League places.”

Mikel Arteta takes charge of the Gunners on Sunday, meaning he won't be managing Arsenal for their game at Everton, another of his former clubs, tomorrow lunchtime.

Freddie Ljungberg will take charge of that game - against fellow caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson.

That could also be Ferguson's last game in temporary charge of Everton, with Carlo Ancelotti tipped to become manager at Goodison Park.

Maybe Arteta and Ancelotti can sit next to each other in the stands.

I often wonder what difference 'knowing the club inside out' makes. If Unai Emery had played for Arsenal years ago, would that have made him a better manager at the Emirates?

I remember some Oxford fans questioning Chris Wilder because he was 'from the north' so he didn't know the club well.

Ian Dennis
Radio 5 Live senior football reporter

After the departure of Unai Emery, Arsenal made it clear they wanted a cultural fit and that’s one of the reasons they’ve turned towards their former captain. He'll know the club inside out.

They know a lot about him after interviewing him for the job last time [when they gave it to Emery instead]. He's got potential but they believe he’s the right man at this time.

This graphic from Arsenal shows all their permanent managers ever. Watford have probably had that many this decade.

Image source, Arsenal

Mikel Arteta never won a senior cap for Spain. He must be one of the best players to never play senior international football.

He actually tried to play for England in 2010 through residency but it turned out he wasn't eligible because Fifa rules say he would have had to have held a British passport when he played for Spain Under-21s in order to be eligible.

I will confess I was creating a 'pick your combined Arsenal and Chelsea XI' team selector for their meeting on 29 December a few days ago, and had to google whether some of their players were actually still at Arsenal.

To be fair, Mohamed Elneny is out on loan at Besiktas.

Dan Roan
BBC sports editor

A club doctor charged by the Football Association with an anti-doping rule violation says he is "ashamed" of his actions.

Dr Andrew Johnson has been accused of providing fraudulent information about a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) when working as club doctor for Bury last year.

An application he made on behalf of an unnamed player to use the banned substance testosterone on medical grounds was dated December 2018.

Dr Johnson has now told the BBC he failed to apply for the TUE when he was meant to, and was "dishonest in retrospectively making an application to cover up" the issue.

Read more here.

Pete Clarkson: I wish Arteta all the best, but my gut tells me this is a mistake. He's unproven, has a massive rebuild on his hands, and will be dealing an impatient fan base who expect trophies.

Malcolm, West Kingsdown: The most intelligent player to grace the Emirates is now our manager. Forget how much he might have learnt under Pep and consider why Pep cherry picked him in the first place. It will take time to fix our broken team but we are on our way back. In Mikel we trust.

Mike Kent: The problem for Arsenal is the board want a 'yes' man who won't spend or argue over transfers, hence why they overlook real leaders like Vieira. Arsenal as a competitive force are done all the while the Kronke family are there.

Mesut Ozil is in his seventh season at Arsenal! I can't believe it's been that long. I think of Ozil and Mikel Arteta as being slightly different Arsenal eras.

Thanks Ben. We'll be keeping this live page going until after Mikel Arteta's news conference which is at 17:00 GMT.

So keep your thoughts coming in on whether Mikel Arteta is a good appointment, and if you think he should have taken the job.

We're going to carry on looking at all the reaction to Mikel Arteta's appointment as the new Arsenal boss, but before I hand over to my esteemed colleague Emlyn, here's a recap of the other big stories so far today:

• Duncan Ferguson tight-lipped on Carlo Ancelotti's Everton appointment
• Pogba 'not being sold in January' and Haaland on 'Christmas holiday' - Solskjaer
• Liverpool hopeful Van Dijk will be fit for Club World Cup final
• Lampard on learning under Mourinho, the family balancing act and trusting the kids