Arsenal are reportedly readying a bumper new contract for Mikel Arteta, with the Spaniard thoroughly impressing the club hierarchy.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are readying a new deal for Mikel Arteta, which is likely to extend his stay by three more years.
Arsenal have been growing steadily since last summer, after a flurry of transfer activity before the current season. While all the players have settled in well at the club, one of the major factors for that and the team’s overall progress is the presence of Mikel Arteta.
The Spanish manager initially had a tough period after becoming the Arsenal manager following the dismissal of Unai Emery in December 2019. Arteta won fans’ approval in his first six months by winning the FA Cup and then promising a strong rebuild of the current squad.
Fans had been unhappy with the manager after successive 8th place finishes during Arteta’s first 18 months at the club. Despite slight backlash from certain sections, the Arsenal board have always maintained their full support for the Spaniard despite his glaring shortcomings.
Groups of fans called for his head at the start of the current campaign when Arsenal lost each of their first three Premier League matches. Moreover, many supporters, particularly on social media, were unhappy with the massive spending on players like Aaron Ramsdale and Ben White.
However, since their loss to Manchester City, Arteta has managed a remarkable turnaround of fortunes, stitching together a ten-game unbeaten run. The main factor has been the consistency of Arsenal’s results under the Spaniard, which has propelled them into the top-four conversation.
Arteta recently addressed their chances of qualifying for the Champions League, with the Gunners one of the favourites to finish in fourth place. Arteta has managed to build a squad full of young players and promote academy stars to the first-team squad.
Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, two Hale End stars, recently scored in the Gunners’ win at home against Brentford, which further highlighted their improving fortunes under the Spanish manager.
Most fans are likely to applaud the club’s decision over a new deal, which will let Arteta earn a reported £8.3 million per year, taking the whole deal close to £25 million over its course. It is a significant step from Arsenal as the manager only has about 16 months left on his current contract.
Moreover, it is understood to be a move to secure the future of Bukayo Saka in the summer, when he will have two years left. The young squad is behind their manager and handing him a new deal will be a blow to several possible suitors, such as Manchester City, who wanted Arteta to succeed Pep Guardiola after 16 months.
