Mikel Arteta has assured Arsenal fans that there is nothing to worry about over his contract extension. The Spaniard's existing deal will expire at the end of the season and there has not yet been confirmation that a new contract has been finalised.
Contract situation
However, both Arteta and the club are understood to be relaxed about the situation and there are no concerns about going into the new season with the situation as it is. The indications are that a new contract will be signed and it is likely to make Arteta one of the highest-paid managers in the world.
The Gunners’ boss reiterated his commitment to the club on Friday, indicating that supporters should be confident that it is only a matter of time with his extension.
“They don’t have to worry about any of that, because I want to be here,” Arteta said. “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.”
Transfer window priorities
Arteta was keen to play down talk over his future last season, insisting the full focus needed to be on the club's push for major silverware. With that achieved in the form of the Premier League title, it had seemed likely that discussions could progress fairly quickly over the summer.
Arteta, though, is happy to put the contract chat on the back burner again while Arsenal look to maximise the final weeks of the summer transfer window. He said: “There is always another priority, I think! And that’s the way we have been treating it, because everybody feels comfortable that the time on the contract is not going to be an issue. I think because 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.”
Squad and market activity
It has been a challenging summer for Arsenal so far, who have seen their attempts to sign Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior fall short. The club remain in the market for a new winger and a player to bolster the right side of defence. There are also several players they are looking to sell before the window shuts, including Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira.
It is set to be a hectic end to the window, in contrast to Arteta's demands after the Champions League final that Arsenal act "very fast" in the market. Despite the work that is still to be done, Arteta insisted the club are in a positive place with the new season now almost upon them.
“I am really happy with the squad, the players that I have and I am really happy with the ambition of the club,” Arteta said. “There is zero question about that. We have shown that in the manner we have tried to act. But I think we need to do it our own way. We have super strengths and we have other areas we need to be very conscious because we don’t have the elements or the structure that other clubs have. We need to do it our way. We are always on it that way and we will do what we believe is the right thing to do. To have the best possibility to compete in every competition that’s for sure.”
