Mikel Arteta looks close to securing a brand-new Arsenal contract with the hierarchy impressed with the progress being made.
The hope is that Arsenal can accelerate their plans ahead of schedule by qualifying for the Champions League this season, a target thought a fantasy by many at the beginning of the campaign.
However, with a new deal comes the discussion as to whether the club is making the right choice at this moment in time. With so much left of the season to play, it is very easy to imagine Arsenal falling out of the race and even Europe entirely should they consistently drop points.
Therefore, with a new contract needs to be a step up in the expectations of the Spaniard.
When Mikel Arteta took over at Arsenal, the club was in an awful position with a split dressing room and a lower half of the Premier League table standing.
Since then, an FA Cup has been won and despite a poor finish last season in the league and Europe, the work of Arteta and his executive staff such as Edu has helped to significantly overhaul the squad. Directly contributing to the unlikely top-four chase this season.
Progression is the key word and the definition relating to Arsenal will vary from fan to fan. With the club having once been the jewel of the English game with consistent title challenges, a Champions League final appearance and an unbeaten Premier League season, expectations for many are for the club to be there again.
Rightly so, however, it is the agreed-upon timeline to allow a coach their chance at seeing the club move towards that in the context of the competition around them.
With that said, no manager is entitled to a blank cheque of time at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta needs to show continual progression towards the goal of being title challengers again.
Therefore, in his new contract, clauses of achievement should be considered by the club executives. Arsenal have locked themselves into player contracts before and not seen the reward for their investment.
Lessons must be learned and Mikel Arteta’s new deal is a good place to start. Should Arsenal look to invest a similar amount to the £150 million this upcoming summer as they did in 2021, the top four, if not achieved this season, should be the minimum expectation.
Once within the top four, the club needs to work on establishing themselves as annual Champions League participants, especially with the radical changes coming to the competition in the next few years.
Fall out of the top four and there must be an air of accountability dependent upon contributing factors and context. The club cannot be allowed to slip into a state of flux between the Champions League and Europa League.
Thankfully, the young squad that has been built has nothing close to the baggage of the group left behind at the end of Unai Emery’s tenure. A new coach would inherit a squad full of growing potential.
Arsenal must think forwards and thankfully this appears to be the case, but Arteta must never have the same amount of comfort that Arsene Wenger had that eventually saw the club decline to where it sits now. Football has moved on, and so must the Gunners.
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