Villarreal veteran Santi Cazorla is backing former teammate Mikel Arteta for success as Arsenal manager.

The Gunners have won only two of their seven matches since the Spaniard took charge in December, replacing Unai Emery.

But Cazorla told Goal: "Yes, I believed he would become a manager in the future. Even when I was playing with him, he showed great leadership in dressing room.

"Some say it's a gamble for Arsenal to appoint him, but I believe it's a reasonable challenge. He also worked as a coach under Pep Guardiola.

"I believe he can become a great coach."

He added: "It's not easy for any manager now to be like [Arsene] Wenger or [Sir Alex] Ferguson. I can't anticipate how long he'll stay at Arsenal, but I believe he can also make great career at Arsenal, and he's a proper one for Arsenal.

"I hope Mikel leads Arsenal well."