Arsenal are closing in on a new contract for Mikel Arteta, with the manager reported to be committed to remaining at the Emirates despite interest from Barcelona and clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
Talks over an extension have been under way since January and accelerated during the summer. According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are increasingly confident that an agreement can be reached before the next international break, which begins on September 25.
Arteta’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the season, but the Spaniard is understood to be keen to continue the project he began in north London in 2019.
Barcelona have long regarded the 44-year-old as a potential future manager, while Saudi clubs Al Nassr and Al Ittihad are also reported to have made enquiries during the summer. There is no indication, however, that those approaches have altered Arteta’s position.
Arsenal prioritise Mikel Arteta contract
Arsenal’s determination to secure Arteta’s future reflects the transformation overseen by the former Manchester City coach. He guided the club to their first Premier League title in 22 years last season and took them to only the second Champions League final in their history.
Arsenal were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties after a 1-1 draw, but the campaign further strengthened Arteta’s standing among Europe’s leading managers.
TEAMtalk reports that the manager’s relationship with Arsenal’s hierarchy remains strong and that negotiations have progressed positively. The club is also working on new contracts for Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber as it seeks to preserve the core of the squad.
Arteta has already managed more than 350 matches for Arsenal and is the seventh-longest-serving manager in the club’s history. He also has the highest win percentage of any Arsenal manager, with his figure above 60 per cent and narrowly ahead of Arsene Wenger’s record.
With Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City having appointed new managers this summer, Arsenal believe continuity under Arteta can give them a significant advantage as they pursue further domestic and European honours.
