Mikel Arteta, Arsenal
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal | Stuart MacFarlane/GettyImages
Mikel Arteta has officially penned his new deal at Arsenal, and it's fair to say that no extension has ever been more deserved.
You know how some people just live and breathe Arsenal? Arteta is one of them. His career arc could have went full circle, but he put a pin in it at Arsenal. He signed for Arsenal, captained Arsenal, retired at Arsenal, came back to manage Arsenal, then led Arsenal to its first Premier League trophy since the Invincibles. Arsenal, that's the headline when it comes to Mikel.
If Arteta's reign at Arsenal teaches us anything, it's patience. "Trust the process" is a term that Arteta has embodied, and it's a mantra that Arsenal fans finally believe. If you were to tell fans of a decade ago we'd have full, unequivocal trust in the club, they would have laughed at you and walked away slowly.
When you love a club as much as Arteta loves Arsenal, words are not enough. Actions speak louder than words, and that's exactly why the news of Arteta's contract should excite fans: it's not just a reward for what has happened, it's a signal of trust for what will happen.
Mikel Arteta is only just getting started at Arsenal
No other club is better placed to dominate English football for the foreseeable future than Arsenal.
The Premier League champions have it together. They are ascending, and their future plan is clear, whereas other clubs are descending, and their futures are hazy.
Arsenal remain the favourites for many people to lift the Premier League trophy this season. They are second only to Man City, but of all the clubs in the world, Man City's future is the haziest. They have a punishment looming over their heads, and even though they'll hilariously protest their innocence, nobody can deny this is a huge spanner thrown into the works for them.
Then, there is Chelsea. Heading into this season, we all thought they would be Arsenal's closest contender. A handful of games in, and they are in mid-table. If Xabi Alonso is to be up there with his friend Mikel, then he requires something Chelsea has never had: patience.
To keep a long story short, the next few years in the Premier League are Arsenal's to lose. They have built the foundations that other clubs are just now starting to build.
Arteta was obsessed with the idea of becoming a champion at Arsenal. That's exactly what he is, but nothing about his time at the club has suggested he's the type to rest on his laurels.
The next few years at Arsenal will be even more exciting than the last few years. Arsenal trust Arteta, and Arteta trusts Arsenal. This is an incredibly exciting position to be in. Who's ready for the next chapter? I know I am.
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