Arsenal will be looking to address Mikel Arteta’s uncertain contract situation – given it doesn't have long left to run.
The Gunners boss has been extremely preoccupied in recent months as he finds himself in an unprecedented three-way title race, chasing the club’s first Premier League trophy in 20 years. With the season approaching its gripping finale, it's meant Arteta’s own future at the club has largely been put on the back burner.
Many fans would not have even realised that the 42-year-old, who has been in charge since late 2019, will soon enter the final year of his contract with the north Londoners, having last signed a three-year deal in May 2022.
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Since then, the demand elsewhere for one of the most exciting managers in the game has only grown thanks to Arteta’s seismic transformation of the club he once captained. Under his leadership, Arsenal have gone from a soulless outfit in decline to back-to-back title challengers and Champions League quarter-finalists this term.
Both the club and Arteta have openly stated they are in no rush to sit down and discuss a new deal in recent months, but that has changed since the Champions League exit to Bayern Munich last week.
What should Arsenal table to Arteta in terms of a new contract? Let us know in the comments section.
Reporter David Ornstein suggested there will be some scrutiny into Arteta’s failure to get past Bayern, given the German club’s struggles and the amount of money he has been given to work with in the transfer market. But his resounding overall success means the Gunners hierarchy are keen to retain his services in the long term.
His impressive tenure has unsurprisingly seen reports, particularly in Spain, seek to unsettle the Gunners by suggesting he has his eyes on a move elsewhere. In January, the Spaniard dismissed “totally fake news” that he would be taking over at Barcelona from Xavi – who now looks set to stay – in the summer. While few believed the outlandish reports, Arteta’s response to another question about his future sparked more intrigue.
He initially said: “What I can say is that I am extremely happy and proud to be where I am.” But when asked whether he would ever manage another team in England, he replied: “Today no. I don’t know. I played for two great clubs in this country. I’m extremely young and I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Arsenal were still reportedly very “relaxed” over his contract situation at the time, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. The Italian stated the club feel Arteta loves Arsenal and has the intention of staying and building on his project, meaning they were confident he would sign a new deal at the right time. While ex-Gunners boss Unai Emery has just put pen to paper on a new deal at Champions League-chasing and Europa Conference League semi-finalists Aston Villa, there isn't as much urgency at the Emirates to get a deal done.
Earlier this month, the former Everton, PSG and Rangers midfielder insisted there was “nothing to report” regarding his contract extension, but admitted he is “really happy” at the Emirates. Arteta said: "I still have a year in my contract, that’s a long time in football.
“The players are happy, the club is happy, no issues. I’m just focusing on the games and winning football matches and that’s the most important thing right now.”
Arteta has overcome many challenges to be in the position he is today, most notably inheriting a woeful squad when he first took over. A dreadful start to the 2020/21 campaign saw a not-insignificant number of supporters call for his sacking, while he also had to stamp down his authority by banishing club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in an unpopular move at the time.
Arsenal narrowly missed out on a Champions League finish to rivals Tottenham in 2021/22, and crumbled late last season to hand City their third successive title despite leading the table for much of the campaign. And yet there has been clear improvement season after season under the Basque manager, whose impact on and off the pitch has gone some way to restoring a sleeping giant back to its former glory.
If Arteta can lead the Gunners to a first title in 20 years – and see off the likes of rivals Tottenham and Manchester United in tricky upcoming away trips – he will be a God in the eye of many supporters.
