Arsenal fans have today woken up to the news that Mikel Arteta has signed a contract extension, which runs until the end of the 2024/25 season. football.london previously reported that the club were preparing to offer the Spaniard a new deal this season, with official confirmation coming this morning (Friday).
Arteta signed his new deal alongside Arsenal Women's head coach Jonas Eidevall, who has also extended his contract with the club. Speaking to Arsenal.com, Arteta touched on the vision and ambition that he shares with owner Stan Kroenke and his son, Josh.
"When I spoke to Josh he could see the club at the same point and he wanted to take the club the way I wanted to do it. So everything that he’s said, and that Stan has said when I’ve been together with both of them, they’ve always delivered," said Arteta.
READ MORE: Arsenal confirm Mikel Arteta new contract and Jonas Eidevall deal
Now the new contract has been confirmed, it possibly reveals the reason behind talks which took place between Arteta and Stan Kroenke back in January. The Arsenal boss was pictured with the American businessman after being invited to watch Kroenke's Colorado Avalanche in the US, just days before the winter transfer window closed.
At the time, many believed that talks regarding new signings were taking place, and while that may have been brought up, it's likely that those discussions would have happened prior to or earlier on in the window. Looking back, you get the sense that this meeting was due to something much different, such as having conversations over a new contract and the visions for the club.
As Arteta confirmed above, he and the owners have been together to discuss plans moving forward, and it seems as if January presented an opportunity to do just that. The contract extension comes at a time when Arsenal find themselves in a nail-biting top-four battle with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The Gunners are guaranteed a top-six finish, meaning Europa League football will return to the Emirates next season if Champions League qualification is not secured. Regardless of how the season concludes, the overall feeling is that the club is heading in the right direction under Arteta, on and off the pitch.
A talented young squad filled with potential has been built, an improved atmosphere and culture have been established and European football is returning after a short absence. We may not be where we want to be right now and there's still a lot of work to be done, no doubt, but things are moving in the right direction.
Reacting to Arteta's contract extension, technical director Edu confirmed that it's set to be another busy summer for the club as plans are put in place to strengthen the squad over the coming months. "It’s important to show everyone where we want to go as a club. We are going to face a big summer again and it’s important to have our manager here," he said.
