Mikel Arteta appointed Arsenal manager | latest odds

Arsenal's protracted search for a new permanent manager is over after the appointment of Mikel Arteta on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

The Gunners have played five games under interim manager Freddie Ljungberg, who will be in charge for the final time for Saturday's clash at Everton.

Arteta will take charge for the first time when Arsenal visit Bournemouth on Boxing Day and his immediate brief is to get the Gunners closer to the race for Champions League qualification.

Going into the weekend Arsenal are tenth – seven points adrift of the top four and seven clear of the relegation zone.

They are 20-1 to achieve a top-four finish, 14-1 to win the FA Cup – they begin with a tricky third-round tie at home to Leeds – and 9-1 to win the Europa League.

Arteta has a huge task on his hands but has been made fully aware of the club's ambitions.

He said: "We need to be competing for the top trophies in the game.

"That's been made very clear to me in my discussions with Stan and Josh Kroenke and the senior people from the club."

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