By Nurudeen Obalola
Mikel Arteta has extended his stay at Arsenal with a new deal.
The 42-year-old Spaniard was in the final year of his previous contract, but has now signed on until 2027 on improved terms.
“We’re delighted to announce that Mikel Arteta has signed a new long-term contract with the club,” Arsenal announced on their official website on Wednesday.
“Since joining us in December 2019, Mikel has been a key figure in re-establishing us as a force back at the top of English and European football and generating a renewed connection between the team, the club and our supporters.
“Last season began with Mikel’s second victory in the FA Community Shield and ended with a second successive runners-up finish in the Premier League, as the team ensured the title race went to the final day.
“During last season, we set numerous club records including our most Premier League wins (28), most Premier League goals (91) and our highest-ever overall win rate (67.3%) for any season in our history. Mikel was nominated for Premier League Manager of the Month seven times, winning it in February 2024 – the seventh time in his career.
“We also qualified for our second successive season in Champions League football after a seven-year absence – all achieved with the third-youngest squad in the Premier League.”
Under Arteta, Arsenal ran Manchester City close for the Premier League title in 2022/2023 and last season, finishing five points behind last year and adrift by just two points last May.
The Gunners hierarchy are happy with the club’s progress under the Spaniard and are giving him their full backing.
Arsenal Co-Chair, Josh Kroenke, said: “We’re delighted to have extended Mikel’s contract.
“Mikel is a dynamic and passionate manager, who is relentless in the pursuit of excellence. He has a deep understanding of Arsenal’s values, and since joining us as Head Coach in December 2019, he has taken the team to another level in an Arsenal way.
“There is a great collective team spirit at the club, and with the strong relationships we hold between us and belief in what we do, we look forward with excitement and confidence, as we continue our aim – to win together.”
Sporting Director Edu added: “We are really happy that Mikel has signed a new long-term contract. It’s a very positive and proud moment for everyone at the club and an important part of what we’re all working towards.
“Mikel has shown his qualities since the very first day he joined us, not only as a football manager, but as a person with wonderful values. We have a strong belief in what we are doing and what we want to achieve together. Mikel’s new contract gives us stability and clear direction as we aim for new heights.”
Arteta, who led Arsenal to win the FA Cup in his first season in charge in 2020, is delighted to continue guiding the club he used to play for, for the next few years.
He 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.”
