Arsenal promote Arteta to 1st-team manager

Arsenal gave Mikel Arteta an opportunity on Friday to make an even bigger impact at the club by promoting him from head coach to first-team manager, the north London side announced.

Arteta, who's set to enter his first full year in charge of the Gunners, will now have a greater say in all matters relating to the men's first team rather than being limited to controlling Arsenal's coaching department.

"My title has changed a little bit but I'm just here to try and do my job as well as possible," Arteta said Friday ahead of Arsenal's first game of the season against Fulham.

"It is always nice to be recognized from the club for the job that I try to do but I just want to help the club to do the right things," he added. "When I have to be involved, great. When I work in any area, great. I just want to make this club more successful in this country as quickly as possible and in a sustainable way. That's my ambition. It's our ambition and we have to do it together."

Arteta will also now work closely with technical director Edu, as the pair will be responsible for such things as player recruitment and scouting.

"Mikel's been here since the end of December and the last nine months have probably been the most challenging nine months in Arsenal's history - and we've been around for 134 years. Despite all of those challenges, Mikel has been driving this football club forward," chief executive Vinai Venkatesham said.

The former Arsenal captain has been haled for his positive impact at the club since taking over for Unai Emery last year.

He ended his first season as head coach by capturing the FA Cup last month.