Arsenal confirm new Mikel Arteta contact in huge boost for Gunners

Mikel Arteta has agreed terms on a new contract with Arsenal that ties him to the club until 2027.

The Spaniard’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of this season, but both parties were confident of agreeing to fresh terms.

Arteta confirmed at the end of August talks over a new deal would take once the transfer window had closed.

Both parties had been confident fresh terms would be agreed, and Arsenal will be delighted to have tied down Arteta, with the news coming just days before Sunday's north London derby against Tottenham.

Arteta said: “I feel extremely proud, very excited and am looking forward to what is coming next. I’m proud to be where I am and have the relationships that I have with everyone at the club.

“I feel extremely lucky to work every single day with good people and the ambition we have here. I feel very inspired, I feel challenged, I feel supported and I want to do much more than what we’ve already done together.

“Together with the players and everyone at the club, we are looking forward to the coming years, with our supporters, who have emotionally transformed the club and the team. Our supporters have transformed individuals and we are different now. You can tell that we are different and for me, that is down to them.

“We look forward to continuing the journey together.”

The 42-year-old has impressed in his first managerial role, after being hired in December 2019 to replace Unai Emery.

Mikel Arteta

Arteta led the Gunners to the FA Cup in his first season and in the past two years they have finished second in the Premier League behind Manchester City.

Arsenal have not lifted the title in 20 years and believe Arteta is the man to finally get them over the line.

The former midfielder has been linked with jobs over the past few years, in particular at his former clubs Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, but he hinted last month that his future was at Arsenal.

"The focus has been on the transfer window," Arteta said, when quizzed about talks over a new deal. We had quite a lot of things to do and discuss. We are on it and we will take care of that in the right moment.

"I am very grateful first of all for where I'm sitting and the people I work with every single day, because it's really difficult to find that harmony, trust, belief and alignment in the vision.

"It's something I always mention, because I believe we still have an unbelievable time ahead of us. It's very exciting and I am very excited about it."

Arteta's influence has grown at Arsenal, as he was given the role of head coach when he joined. After winning the FA Cup a year later, the Spaniard was given the title of manager, and he has played a major role in reshaping the culture at Arsenal.

Arteta enjoys a close relationship with Arsenal's executive team of sporting director Edu and managing director Richard Garlick, and the trio have worked hard to revamp the squad over the past few years.

Having just missing out on the title to City, Arteta has stressed the club's hunger to keep fighting.

"Looking around and the people that I work with every single day, they are ready and they bring ideas," he said. "They are so willing to work. They are ruthless about the vision we have and what we want to achieve.

"Then the players, their ability to put a smile on my face no matter what happens. They make me enjoy my job and that's the biggest motivation. Every day is something new to look at. We are creating that culture and want to keep going."