Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract at Arsenal that will see him become one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League.
Arteta has committed to staying at Arsenal until at least 2027, with a three-year extension having been agreed. His previous contract was set to expire at the end of this season and the news regarding a new contract puts all speculation that he might leave to rest.
Moreover, The Daily Mail reported that prior to this new deal, Arteta was earning £9 million ($12m) per year, but the new contract is expected to elevate him to a salary closer to the £20m-a-year range ($26m), bringing him within striking distance of what Pep Guardiola earns at Manchester City.
Arteta will undoubtedly become Arsenal’s highest-paid manager in their history, a clear indication of the increasing authority and trust placed in him by the club’s hierarchy.
After signing the deal, Arteta 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.”
Co-chairman Josh Kroenke was equally excited about the new deal and 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.”
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.”
When Arteta took over in December 2019, the Gunners were enduring a difficult period under Unai Emery, having failed to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title amid struggles for consistency. Arteta, who had spent three years as an assistant coach under Guardiola at City, brought fresh ideas and a renewed sense of direction to the club.
His influence was quickly felt as Arsenal triumphed in the FA Cup just months after his appointment, setting the tone for a new era.
The team is now recognised as a leading contender for the Premier League title after losing out narrowly to City in the last two seasons. During his tenure, he has led Arsenal to 139 victories in 235 games, an impressive record to say the least.
With Arteta’s new contract now done, the focus turns to the future. Following the lengthy reign of Arsene Wenger, who was synonymous with Arsenal for 22 years, it seemed unlikely that any manager could exert the same influence.
However, Arteta is following in the footsteps of the French legend as he strives to usher in another era of sustained success at the club.
