Arsenal co-owner Josh Kroenke has said tying Mikel Arteta down to a new contract is an “utmost priority” ahead of the club’s Champions League final against Paris St Germain.
Arteta’s current deal expires next year, but talks over an extension have already begun and are likely to be accelerated in the summer.
The 44-year-old Spaniard, manager of the Gunners since 2019, has overseen Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years and he will make it a historic double if his side beat PSG in Saturday’s showpiece in Budapest. Speaking last month, Arteta said he was “fully committed” to Arsenal.
Josh Kroenke is keen to see Mikel Arteta sign a new deal at Arsenal
Josh Kroenke is keen to see Mikel Arteta sign a new deal at Arsenal(Zed Jameson/PA)
And Kroenke said: “Keeping Mikel around is (an) utmost priority and I think the good news for Arsenal fans worldwide is he’s enjoying the project, he’s enjoying being here and from his time as a player all the way up until now, he’s an Arsenal man through and through.
Munster 41 Ulster 14: John Hodnett scores four as Ulster drop down in the URC tableWhat time and channel is Bulls vs Munster on? TV and live stream info
“When we pivoted from (Arteta’s predecessor) Unai (Emery) and came into Mikel, the conversations were all about culture and reinventing that. And perhaps taking a step back to go forward. And Mikel really embraced that, especially the cultural aspect.”
Arsenal spent more than £250million across eight new players last summer, and Kroenke insists the club will not stand still in their pursuit of more glory.
“We’re going to look to strengthen because we know that teams around us are going to get better,” he added. “If you’re not trying to continually evolve and improve, you’re standing still.
“We think we have a chance here. We have very strong foundations in place to continue to build and try to sustain. Getting the foundations in place is usually the hardest part of the journey and now we have that, it is about trying to stay at the top, and knowing everyone is trying to climb the mountain after you.”
Adding to his accolades 🥇
Mikel Arteta scoops the LMA Premier League Manager of the Season award 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Z4AMF39r9Z
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 26, 2026
Josh, and his father and co-owner Stan Kroenke, are expected to be inside the Puskas Arena for Saturday’s mouth-watering final as Arsenal bid to win the Champions League for the first time in their 140-year history.
And Kroenke continued: “One of the most fun questions that I’ve been asked over the past couple of weeks before we clinched the Premier League was: ‘Which one? Which one means more?’ Which one? The one we don’t have.
“But champions of England sounds pretty good and champions of Europe could sound even better, especially with the double tied to it.”