Mikel Arteta has openly stated that he intends to sign a fresh contract with Arsenal, putting to rest any speculation about his future at the club. The manager is now in the final year of his current agreement with the Premier League champions, even though co‑chairman Josh Kroenke emphasized back in May that securing a new deal for Arteta was an "utmost priority" for the organization. Despite the contractual deadline looming, Arteta assures supporters that there is no cause for alarm.
He explained that both he and the club will handle the extension "in an organic way" because he feels content with his role and the hierarchy appears equally satisfied with his performance. "The fans don’t need to worry about any of that," Arteta said during the interview.
"I want to stay here, I’m extremely happy and I feel very grateful to work with the people I work with. When the opportunity arises, we will sort out the new contract. That’s all there is to it." He added that everyone involved feels confident that timing will not become an issue.
"My intention is to remain at Arsenal and I’m very happy here. The club feels the same way, which is why we are approaching the renewal in a very natural, step‑by‑step fashion," he explained.
Beyond contract talks, Arteta fielded questions about the squad’s attacking prowess for the upcoming season and whether the team possesses enough firepower to challenge for the Premier League crown again while also targeting success in other competitions. The manager acknowledged the criticism that Arsenal’s style of play last season, despite delivering a league title and a Champions League final appearance, was sometimes perceived as overly cautious.
He noted that the team earned widespread praise for its defensive resilience, but some observers felt the side could have been more adventurous in the final third. In response, Arteta highlighted the new signings that have bolstered the roster this campaign.
Midfielder Bruno Guimarães and forward Christos Tzolis have joined the squad, while the club let go of Leandro Trossard, who moved to Turkish side Beşiktaş. Apart from these additions, the core of Arsenal’s midfield and attacking unit remains largely unchanged from the previous season. The manager also disclosed that the club had monitored several high‑profile attackers, including Vinícius Júnior, Julián Álvarez and Bradley Barcola, but ultimately decided to retain the existing group and make only targeted enhancements. When asked if the current attacking options are sufficient, Arteta replied affirmatively, provided the players stay fit.
"If they are fit, yes," he said. He then reflected on the challenges of the previous campaign, noting that the team had to cope with numerous injuries to key goal‑scoring personnel throughout the season.
"Looking back at the number of days, games and months we missed many of our important players with a lot of goal threat, the way we still managed to produce the season we did is remarkable," Arteta remarked. He praised the collective effort and resilience of the squad, emphasizing that the credit belongs to the entire team for maintaining a high level of performance despite the setbacks. "It speaks to the way the team plays and conducts itself, and I think the squad deserves recognition for that," he added.
Looking ahead, Arteta said the objective is to raise the team’s standards even further. "We want to elevate our level, expecting the rest of the league to do the same, because that’s traditionally how the competition has unfolded in recent years.
That’s our plan for this season, and we intend to evolve our game accordingly," he explained. He also underscored his responsibility as manager to prepare a side capable of winning under any circumstances. "My job is to ready a team that can succeed regardless of the context—whether we’re not at our best on the day, the opponent is exceptionally strong, or the margins are fine," Arteta said.
"That’s how I will prepare the squad." In summary, Arteta’s message to Arsenal supporters is clear: he is committed to staying at the club, the contract renewal will be handled smoothly and naturally, and the team is poised to build on its recent achievements while addressing any perceived deficiencies in attacking flair. Fans can therefore look forward to a season where the Gunners aim to defend their title, compete strongly in Europe, and continue to develop under the guidance of a manager who feels both valued and motivated to remain at the helm.