Arsenal hierarchy make decision on Mikel Arteta's future

Arsenal's hierarchy are prepared to stick with Mikel Arteta this summer despite the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League.

The Gunners needed to win the Europa League to qualify for the elite competition, but they were recently eliminated at the semi-final stage by Villarreal.

There have been calls from many fans to dismiss Arteta, but The Mail claims that the Spaniard will continue at the helm this summer.

The board are prepared to back Arteta with transfer funds this summer, and will assess his position during the opening weeks of next season.

Should the Gunners fail to impress in the first few games, he could be shown the exit door. The club have no plan to sack him prior to that.

The Gunners are currently 10th in the league standings, five points adrift of the final European place occupied by Liverpool.

With four games remaining, they could realistically miss out on European football for the first time in a quarter of a century.