Mikel Arteta has moved to calm concerns among Arsenal supporters regarding his future, insisting there is no reason to worry as he enters the final year of his current contract. The manager, who has been with the north London club since 2019, last signed an extension in 2024 and remains confident that a new agreement will be reached in due course.
“They don’t have to worry about any of that, because I want to be here,” Arteta told reporters on Friday. He emphasized his gratitude for his current role, adding, “I am extremely happy. I feel very grateful to work with the people that I work with and when we have the possibility, we will resolve that. And that’s it.”
The Spaniard, who guided Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years this past May, noted that contract negotiations have taken a backseat to the club’s busy summer transfer activity. “There is always another priority, I think! That’s the way we have been treating it, I think because everybody feels comfortable that the time on the contract is not going to be an issue,” he explained.
Arteta believes the mutual desire to continue the partnership ensures the process remains organic. “My will, certainly, is to be here and I am very happy here. My feeling from the club is the same one,” he stated.
As Arsenal prepares for Sunday’s Community Shield clash against Manchester City, the club has been active in the market. The squad has been bolstered by the arrivals of Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Club Brugge forward Christos Tzolis. Additionally, the club made Piero Hincapie’s loan move from Bayer Leverkusen permanent and secured goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer.
Despite these moves, the club faced challenges in other pursuits, failing to land Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior or Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. This occurred during a window where rivals like Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester City have each invested £100 million ($135 million) on individual signings.
Arteta remains unfazed by the heavy spending of his competitors, expressing confidence in his current roster. “I am really happy with the squad, the players that I have and I am really happy with the ambition of the club,” he said. The manager has also been linked with potential defensive reinforcements, including Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah.
Addressing the club’s financial strategy, Arteta noted that Arsenal must operate differently than some of their peers. “We have super strengths and we have other areas we need to be very conscious because we don’t have the elements or the structure that other clubs have,” he remarked.
“We need to do it our way. We are always on it that way and we will do what we believe is the right thing to do. To have the best possibility to compete in every competition that’s for sure,” he concluded, reaffirming his commitment to the club’s long-term vision.
Arteta ended Arsenal’s 22-year wait to win Premier League in May and was expected to sign a new contract as a reward for that historic success.
