Mikel Arteta agrees new Arsenal contract with bumper pay rise

Emirates Stadium

Mikel Arteta has agreed an improved new contract with Premier League champions Arsenal following months of ongoing discussions.

The Spaniard’s current deal was set to expire at the end of the season, but an agreement has now been reached to extend his stay in north London.

A decade at the Emirates

While the exact length of the new deal remains unconfirmed, it is set to take the Arsenal manager into at least his tenth year at the club.

Arteta originally arrived at the Emirates Stadium in December 2019 to replace Unai Emery as permanent manager, overseeing a dramatic transformation in fortunes.

The fresh terms will also include a sharp pay increase from his current salary of £10million per year, alongside an additional £5m in bonuses.

Reassuring the supporters

Addressing his future last week, Arteta moved quickly to calm any lingering nerves among the Arsenal faithful regarding the lengthy negotiations.

Speaking about his contract talks, Arteta said last week:

They [the fans] don’t have to worry about any of that because I want to be here. I’m extremely happy and I feel very grateful to work with the people I work with.

Those sentiments were echoed by the hierarchy earlier in the summer when co-chairman Josh Kroenke outlined his desire to secure the manager’s long-term future.

Shortly after the Gunners won the Premier League, Kroenke told reporters about the absolute importance of tying down their influential boss.

Speaking at the start of June, Kroenke said:

Keeping Mikel around is [an] utmost priority. 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.

Kroenke also heaped praise on the collective effort behind the scenes that ended a 22-year wait for the league title.

Kroenke added:

If there is a singular person you can trace this all back to, I’m going to give 100 per cent credit to Mikel, his staff and the players. Those are the ones.

Domestic and European ambitions

Last season proved historic for the club as they were crowned Premier League champions, while also reaching the Champions League and League Cup finals.

The current campaign has brought more positive momentum despite a recent stumble, with Arteta’s side sitting second in the top flight after winning all but one of their opening matches.

That strong start was only briefly checked by a 3-0 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion on the South Coast just before the international break.