Arsenal close to major new contract for Arteta
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that Arsenal are in the process of finalising an agreement with Mikel Arteta over a new contract, with well-placed sources indicating those talks have moved forward recently.
Those involved in talks reportedly have full confidence that Arteta will renew. The expectation is then that the manager will become one of the best-paid managers in football, with Arsenal committed to ‘significantly improving’ on his current deal.
That deal is worth £10m a season plus an extra £5m for Champions League qualification, which has been no trouble for Arteta’s Arsenal in recent seasons.
Mokbel adds that Arteta has made it clear during contract talks that he wants to see Arsenal showing ambition.
Despite the club failing to sign Vinicius Junior or Julian Alvarez over the summer, the fact Arsenal’s owners were willing to sanction those deals has reportedly provided Arteta with the evidence of that ambition.
David Ornstein had confirmed in August that Arteta was set to stay at Arsenal, and that he expects the two parties to reach an agreement on a new deal in due course.
Arteta himself and members of the Arsenal hierarchy had given positive updates on the manager’s contract situation as well, with Arteta saying fans “don’t have to worry”.
The Arsenal boss added “I want to be here, I’m extremely happy,” while indicating the new agreement will be completed when both parties have the opportunity.
Arsenal CEO Richard Garlick then confirmed: “Mikel wants to be at Arsenal and we want Mikel at Arsenal. It’s only a matter of time before we put that into a new contract.
“Everyone is very confident and calm. We’re just navigating a transfer window and I’m sure Mikel’s contract will be resolved very shortly.”
From an Arsenal fan point of view, this is all good news. It would be a positive thing for Arteta to renew, but it’s also important that he’s pushing the club to maximise on their current potential.
There’s no point in the manager renewing if the owners are suddenly going to take a step back and leave him to work with what he’s got for a few years. The other top clubs won’t rest on their laurels.
