In a huge boost for Arsenal and the club's long-term aspirations, manager Mikel Arteta has committed his future to the club by agreeing a new three-year contract, as revealed by David Ornstein of The Athletic.
While an official confirmation is yet arrive from the club, the highly-rated Spaniard has accepted terms that will keep him at the Emirates Stadium until June 2027 as the North London giants continue their search for a first Premier League title since 2004.
Arteta's previous deal, which he signed back in 2022, was set to expire at the end of the current campaign. As a result, this has ended the uncertainty regarding the manager's future amid rumors of interest from Europe's biggest clubs.
Furthermore, Mikel has reportedly also secured a significant pay rise. While his annual salary under this new deal remains uncertain, the Daily Mail reports that he will become the highest-paid Arsenal manager in history and one of the best-paid in the league — though he is unlikely to overtake his former boss Pep Guardiola who earns £20M per year.
This news comes days before the Gunners resume their Premier League campaign following the September international break, with Arsenal visiting Tottenham this Sunday in the first North London Derby of the season.
The atmosphere surrounding the club heading into that derby has been gloomy following injuries and suspensions, with Martin Odegaard joining Mikel Merino on the sidelines while Declan Rice is unavailable following his red card against Brighton.
Nonetheless, fans can rejoice over their manager's new contract. The Spaniard's tenure at Arsenal has been marked by a steady progression since taking over from Unai Emery in December 2019, leading the Gunners to back-to-back title challenges over the past two seasons.
Saka and Co. narrowly missed out on the English top-flight crown last term on the final day, with Manchester City beating them to the title by two points. Arsenal will want to end their wait this time around but have fallen two points behind Guardiola's men and Liverpool, led by Arne Slot, after only three games.
The Gunners are gearing up for a tricky month as they travel to Spurs and Manchester City in back-to-back Premier League matches. Sandwiched in between is their trip to Atalanta as Arsenal kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League campaign next week.
