Arsenal boss Arteta signs new long-term contract

Mikel Arteta has committed his future to Arsenal by penning a new long-term contract with the club.

Arteta took charge of the Gunners in December 2019 following Unai Emery’s exit and has led them to successive second-placed Premier League finishes in the last two seasons.

The Spaniard, who made 150 appearances for Arsenal as a player between 2011 and 2016, also oversaw an FA Cup final victory over Chelsea in 2020 and has lifted the Community Shield on two occasions as the Gunners’ head coach.

Arteta had entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, but reports earlier this week claimed he had agreed a new deal to run until 2027.

Arsenal confirmed he had put pen to paper on Thursday, with co-chairman Josh Kroenke telling the club’s website: “We’re delighted to have extended Mikel’s contract.

“Mikel is a dynamic and passionate manager, who is relentless in the pursuit of excellence.

“He has a deep understanding of Arsenal’s values, and since joining us as head coach in December 2019, he has taken the team to another level in an Arsenal way.

“There is a great collective team spirit at the club, and with the strong relationships we hold between us and belief in what we do, we look forward with excitement and confidence, as we continue our aim – to win together.”

Belief in what we do.

Mikel Arteta has committed his future to The Arsenal pic.twitter.com/fo9zS9jvL5

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 12, 2024

Arteta has overseen 235 competitive games in charge of Arsenal, recording 139 victories for a 59.15% win ratio, with the Gunners scoring 437 goals and conceding 233 during that time.

The Gunners have improved their Premier League points tally in each of his four full seasons at the helm, going from eighth-placed finishers with 61 points in 2020-21 to runners-up to Manchester City with 89 points last term.

He has won 105 of his 175 Premier League matches in charge. Of Arsenal managers in the competition’s history, excluding Pat Rice, who only oversaw three matches, Arteta has the best win percentage (60%).

Arteta told Arsenal’s website: “I feel extremely proud, very excited and am looking forward to what is coming next.

“I’m proud to be where I am and have the relationships that I have with everyone at the club. I feel extremely lucky to work every single day with good people and the ambition we have here.

“I feel very inspired, I feel challenged, I feel supported and I want to do much more than what we’ve already done together.”

Arsenal have taken seven points from their first three games of the Premier League season and face Tottenham in the first north London derby of the campaign on Sunday.