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Mikel Arteta has moved to reassure Arsenal supporters over his future at the club, insisting he wants to remain in charge despite entering the final year of his current contract.
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The Arsenal manager’s existing deal expires at the end of the 2026/27 season, but Arteta has made it clear that he expects his future to be resolved without drama as the Premier League champions prepare to defend their title.
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Arteta’s comments come after Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke revealed in May that extending the manager’s contract was an “utmost priority” for the club following their Premier League triumph.
August 15, (THEWILL) — The Spaniard, who has transformed Arsenal into one of England’s leading sides since taking charge in December 2019, said there was no reason for supporters to be concerned about the situation.
“They don’t have to worry about any of that because I want to be here, I’m extremely happy and I feel very grateful to work with the people I work with”, Arteta said.
“When we have the possibility, we will resolve that. That’s it.”
Arteta confident of new Arsenal deal
Although negotiations over a new contract have yet to be completed, Arteta’s comments indicate that both sides are comfortable with the current situation.
“Everybody feels comfortable that the timing of the contract is not going to be an issue because my will certainly is to be here and I’m very happy here”, he added.
“My feeling from the club is the same one. That’s why everyone is doing things in a very organic way.”
Arteta’s position at Arsenal has strengthened considerably after he guided the club to the Premier League title last season and took them to the Champions League final.
His first years in charge were marked by rebuilding and inconsistent results, but Arsenal have steadily developed into a side capable of challenging for major honours.
The Premier League title was the biggest reward yet for Arteta’s project and has placed the club in a strong position heading into the new campaign.
Arsenal looking for more attacking firepower
While Arteta’s future appears increasingly secure, the manager still has major challenges to address on the pitch.
Arsenal were praised for their defensive organisation during their title-winning campaign but also faced criticism for not being attacking enough at certain stages of the season.
The club have strengthened their squad this summer, bringing in Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, while Leandro Trossard has left for Besiktas.
Arsenal have also been linked with further attacking reinforcements as Arteta looks to build a squad capable of competing on several fronts.
The Gunners have shown interest in players including Victor Osimhen, Vinicius Junior, Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola, although there remains uncertainty over whether further additions will arrive before the transfer window closes.
Asked whether he believes his current attacking options are sufficient, Arteta was confident about the quality available to him.
“If they are fit, yes”, he said.
The Arsenal boss pointed to the number of injuries his squad suffered last season, particularly among players capable of providing a significant goal threat.
“When you look back at last year at the amount of days, games, months that we missed a lot of our important players and players with a lot of goal threat, the manner that we sustained to have the season that we had, I think is remarkable,” Arteta said.
He believes the way Arsenal coped with those absences demonstrated the strength of the squad and deserves significant credit.
Arteta targeting another successful campaign
Having finally ended their wait for the Premier League title, Arteta knows expectations will be even higher this season.
Arsenal must now defend their domestic crown while attempting to go one step further in Europe after reaching the Champions League final last season.
The manager insists his priority is to keep improving rather than simply rely on last season’s success.
“We’re going to prefer to elevate our level, for sure, expecting that the rest will do the same, because that’s traditionally what happened in the league in the last few years,” he said.
Arteta also emphasised that his responsibility is to prepare Arsenal to deal with different challenges throughout the season.
“I have to prepare a team that is capable of winning in whatever the context is: because we’re not good enough on the day, because the opponent is so good, because the differences in games. That’s my job, that’s how I will prepare the team.”
For Arsenal supporters, however, Arteta’s message off the pitch is just as significant as his ambitions on it.
With the manager openly declaring his desire to stay and the club equally keen to extend his tenure, the uncertainty surrounding his contract appears to be little more than a temporary issue.
For now, Arteta’s attention is firmly on the new season, with Arsenal entering the campaign as champions and with their manager determined to take the club to an even higher level.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
