Manchester City would reportedly not stop Mikel Arteta leaving if Arsenal made an approach for him to replace Unai Emery as manager.

The 37-year-old has been working as assistant to Pep Guardiola since retiring from playing in 2016, which brought an end to a five-year spell with the Gunners that saw him score 16 goals in 149 appearances.

Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Leicester City took them to just one win in their last six Premier League games, heightening the pressure on Emery.

The Sun reports that Arteta is one of several candidates the North London club have in mind to potentially replace the former Paris Saint-Germain boss and that if were they to make an approach for Arteta, City would not stand in the former Everton player's way.

Other names linked with the top job at the Emirates Stadium include Jose Mourinho, Luis Enrique and Freddie Ljungberg.