Mikel Arteta has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a three-year contract extension at the club.
The manager was in the final year of his contract, with many fans left ecstatic as Arsenal announced Arteta’s extension.
It’s been a journey full of ups and downs for the boss and his squad, with better days coming as the Gunners continue their push for the Premier League title.
While it wasn’t a surprise that Arteta extended his deal, given what he’s building at the Emirates, the news came at an unexpected time in the build-up to the upcoming North London derby.
Mikel Arteta makes Arsenal objective clear with new contract
Things have improved tremendously for the Gunners, who at first failed to get going under Arteta’s reign.
The Spaniard guided Arsenal to consecutive eighth-place finishes and then missed out on the Champions League in 2021/22.
It was the 2022/23 season when things started to really pick up, as the squad made their status as title challengers clear, finishing short of Manchester City that term and last campaign.
While fighting for the title is a sign that the squad is working well with the manager, it’s not enough for Arteta, who laid out his ‘main objective’ when reflecting on his new contract, via Arsenal’s official website.
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“Win. It has to be that,” the boss said assertively.
“But it has to be that aim, understanding that we have to enjoy the process. We have to be able to be the best version of ourselves every single day to achieve that.”
Arteta sent a clear message to those around Arsenal in the Premier League, emphasising the fact that the Gunners are not prepared to back away from another title race.
“The end result, we want it. The margins are so small and I think we’re going to be close.”
Pep Guardiola will be wary of Arteta
Arteta is right, the margins are incredibly small, with there no greater test than going head-to-head with Manchester City for Premier League glory.
The 2022/23 season showed that when Arsenal fell apart, City were there to capitalise, with the 2023/24 displaying a similar narrative but on a much smaller scale.
- READ MORE: Mikel Arteta sends heartfelt yet defiant message to Arsenal fans after penning new contract
Pep Guardiola will be looking over his shoulder at what his former apprentice is doing at the Emirates, with the gap between Arsenal and City narrowed to just two points last season.
While City will be delighted to have won the title in such a close race, it’s only added more fuel to the fire of Arteta’s ambition in North London, as it’s become even clearer that near perfection is required to usurp the Manchester club.
The Spaniard penning a new deal reinforces his hunger to achieve more, sending Guardiola a warning of what could come in the near future.
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