Mikel Arteta wants to stay at Arsenal, says he will ‘resolve’ contract situation

Mikel Arteta says he wants to be at Arsenal and will “resolve” his contract situation despite not yet extending his deal which expires in 2027.

The Arsenal manager’s last contract extension was a three-year deal signed in September 2024.

Entering a new season without fresh terms agreed, he said: “They (the fans) don’t have to worry about any of that, because I want to be here. I am extremely happy. I feel very grateful to work with the people that I work with and when we have the possibility, we will resolve that. And that’s it.”

His current deal being confirmed in September was timely as it came after the transfer window closed and during the first international break of the season.

On whether the busy nature of the summer transfer window makes finalising a new contract more realistic after the deadline, he added: “There is always another priority, I think! And that’s the way we have been treating it, I think because everybody feels comfortable that the time on the contract is not going to be an issue.

“My will, certainly, is to be here and I am very happy here. My feeling from the club is the same one. That is why everyone is doing things in a really organic way.”

Talks have been in progress since early this year, but when Arsenal first approached Arteta’s representatives, his preference was to wait until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The Arsenal manager not extending his contract until its final year is not unusual, as the one he signed in September 2024 was set to expire in 2025. His last two contracts have both been three-year deals.

Having been in the role since December 2019, Arteta is now the longest serving manager across the 92 teams in the English Football Leagues after Pep Guardiola, who Arteta was assistant to for three and a half years, left Manchester City this summer.

On managing to lift the Premier League with his mentor still in charge of his biggest rivals, after three years of finishing second place, Arteta added: “(It was) one of the probably biggest challenges that I have faced in my career. Because I know the standards, I know that they have the background, they have the stability. They had the quality to go and do it again.

Arteta guided Arsenal to the Premier League title last season. (Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League)

“So it’s been a real challenge. I took it in a way that, okay, regardless of what happens, this is going to make us better. It’s pushing boundaries time after time at every level and every department of the club to try to reach this level.

“When I arrived here, I had a sense in terms of distance and years how far we were behind. Because I was there and I could witness the daily operation and the level. And to be able to win it in the time that we’ve done it, I think we should feel proud of it.”

This season, Arsenal have the chance to do something they have not done in almost 90 years by retaining the league title. They begin their campaign next Friday at home to Coventry City, after facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday at the Principality Stadium.

Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi are expected to be back with the squad for the game against the FA Cup winners.