Mikel Arteta's lawyer is in "conversations" with Arsenal over extending his contract at the end of the season, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Pressure building on Arteta and Arsenal
Wayne Rooney believes Arsenal are cracking under the pressure of trying to see out their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Manchester City have reduced the gap to Arsenal to just six points ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash between the two championship rivals at the Etihad Stadium.
And although Rooney, a five-time Premier League winner for Manchester United, insists Arsenal can still fend off City’s challenge, even if they lose on Sunday, he believes Pep Guardiola’s side now hold the psychological edge.
Arsenal’s defeat against Bournemouth at the Emirates on Saturday followed consecutive domestic losses to City, in the Carabao Cup final, and against Southampton in the FA Cup, and Rooney, speaking on the BBC’s The Wayne Rooney podcast, said: “It is the pressure of trying to win the Premier League.
“You hear a lot of people talking about the experience of winning league titles, and they have quite a few players who have not won the league, and that pressure does build up.
“Obviously, they still have got a great chance to win the league, but they are showing signs they are cracking a little bit. City know how to do it, they have a manager who knows how to do it, and they look strong.
“When you have won it, you can stay calmer and not panic but the Arsenal players will be searching for the right answers because they haven’t done it.
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“City will have the edge (psychologically). They will be able to stay calmer than the Arsenal players, who’ll be worried because when you go on a run and you lose a few games you start thinking: ‘Where is the next goal coming from?’ ‘Where is the next win going to come from?’ And that negative mindset really does have an impact on your performance.”
Fabrizio Romano shares Arteta contract update
Speaking on his personal YouTube channel, Romano reacted to calls for Arteta to be sacked and links to Cesc Fabregas, claiming the club have absolutely no doubts over his future.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the match
Indeed, talks are being held with the Spaniard's lawyer, and will continue into the summer with full focus on the pitch for the time being.
"Arsenal are in active conversations with Mikel Arteta's lawyer already since January, February to discuss a new contract.
"So there are contract talks going on between Arsenal and Arteta. Then the manager and the club together understanding they want to focus on the pitch, they decided all together to focus on the pitch and then at the end of the season in the summer to restart the conversation, length of the contract, salary.
"So they are discussing, they are talking, we have to wait and see."