Mikel Arteta has expressed his clear intention to stay as Arsenal’s manager, even though he has yet to sign a new contract. His current agreement is valid until 2027, and he doesn’t consider the matter of his contract to be a pressing issue.
Arteta extended his contract last in September 2024, and discussions regarding a new deal have been ongoing for some time. However, he mentioned that other priorities at the club have meant there hasn’t been any rush to finalize things.
“The fans don’t need to worry about my contract situation. I want to be here, and I’m very happy. I feel blessed to work with this team, and when the right time comes, we will sort it out,” Arteta stated.
He emphasized that his wish to remain at Arsenal aligns with the club’s stance, indicating that both sides are content to take their time with the negotiations.
### NO URGENCY FOR A NEW CONTRACT
Arteta explained that the club is managing his contract alongside its other responsibilities instead of treating it as an urgent matter. “There are always other priorities,” he noted, pointing out that everyone at the club is comfortable with the current situation.
“My desire to stay is strong, and I feel the same from the club. That’s why everything is moving along naturally,” Arteta added.
Since taking charge in December 2019, Arteta has become the longest-serving manager among the 92 clubs in the English Football League, following Pep Guardiola’s recent departure from Manchester City.
### LOOKING BACK ON PAST CHALLENGES
The Arsenal manager also took a moment to reflect on the journey to winning the Premier League, especially after finishing as runners-up three times in a row to Manchester City. Arteta acknowledged that trying to catch up with Guardiola’s team was a significant challenge due to City’s established strength and stability.
He admitted the experience pushed Arsenal to improve and try to reach the standards set by their top competitors. “When I first arrived, I understood how much ground we needed to cover. Winning the title in such a short time is something we should all be proud of,” Arteta commented.
Now, Arsenal is gearing up to defend their title and aims to win the Premier League for the first time in nearly 90 years. They will face Manchester City in the Community Shield this Sunday before kicking off their league campaign against Coventry City next Friday.
Key players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi are anticipated to return to the squad for the upcoming Community Shield match.
