Pep Guardiola expects Mikel Arteta to “do an excellent job” as Arsenal’s new manager.

Arsenal announced former Gunners player Arteta, 37, as a permanent replacement for Unai Emery just minutes after City boss Guardiola had held his press conference for Saturday evening’s home game against Leicester.

Guardiola had said earlier in the week that fellow Spaniard Arteta would be leaving with his best wishes after a three-and-a-half-year stint as his assistant.

“They are good positionally, they control all departments of the game, so they’re a fantastic team.

“They were last season and after that game it was my feeling that they would be fighting for the top four and it’s happened. Fantastic team.”

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero (thigh) and John Stones (hamstring) could return to contention to face Leicester, but David Silva has not returned to training and remains a big doubt.

Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Fernandinho, among the players rested for the midweek Carabao Cup win at Oxford, are all expected to return.