Arsenal are edging closer to securing Mikel Arteta’s long-term future after the Spaniard gave his strongest indication yet that a new contract will be agreed.
Arteta enters the final year of his current deal this season, but uncertainty surrounding his future appears to be disappearing just as Arsenal begin their Premier League title defence.
SunSport report that the 44-year-old has effectively confirmed he expects to sign a new long-term agreement at the Emirates Stadium.
The development comes only days after Arteta publicly stated that he wants to remain at Arsenal and insisted his contract situation would not become an issue.
For Arsenal, getting it completed would secure something their biggest rivals currently cannot replicate easily: continuity.
🚨❤️🤍 Mikel Arteta confirms plan to sign new deal at Arsenal: “I don't have to worry about any of that because I want to be here. I'm extremely happy”.
“I feel very grateful to work with the people that I work with. Whenever we have the possibility, we will resolve that”. pic.twitter.com/Lqmu5ujMuN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2026
Mikel Arteta Arsenal contract talks reach decisive stage
This is not the first indication that Arsenal have wanted to extend Arteta’s stay.
ReadArsenal reported in June that significant progress had been made over a new contract, with confidence growing that an agreement would eventually be reached.
At that stage, however, negotiations were still ongoing.
The latest comments shift the story forward.
Arteta has now made his own position unmistakable, saying last week that he wants to remain in north London. Arsenal also remain keen to continue the partnership beyond the expiry of his current terms in 2027.
That makes an extension increasingly a question of completion rather than intention.
Arsenal could secure an advantage rivals cannot buy
The timing matters.
Arteta is now the Premier League’s longest-serving manager following Pep Guardiola’s departure from Manchester City, having taken charge of Arsenal in December 2019.
Several of Arsenal’s major rivals have gone through managerial change while the Gunners have built their recruitment, tactical structure and senior squad around one coach.
That continuity helped Arsenal finally win the Premier League last season.
ReadArsenal previously highlighted Josh Kroenke’s insistence that securing Arteta’s future was one of Arsenal’s major priorities, even while Andrea Berta worked on strengthening the squad.
The importance of that decision now looks even clearer.
Arsenal have already added Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis this summer, while Arteta continues to work closely with Berta on the final shape of the squad.
A new contract would ensure the manager overseeing those decisions is also secured for the next phase.
Arsenal have spent heavily to strengthen a title-winning team. Locking down the man responsible for building it may prove just as important.
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