- Mikel Arteta replaced Unai Emery as Arsenal manager in December 2019
- The Spaniard has transformed the Gunners’ fortunes over the past five years.
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Mikel Arteta has agreed a new three-year contract with Arsenal, extending his stay at the club until 2027.
The Spaniard, who replaced Unai Emery in December 2019, has transformed the Gunners from losing sides to genuine Premier League title contenders during his five years in charge.
Arteta’s current contract was due to expire at the end of the current season, and the new deal brings an end to the uncertainty surrounding his future.
It also gives Arsenal a huge boost ahead of this weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham.
Arteta, who honed his coaching skills as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City for three years between 2016 and 2019, replaced Emery at the Emirates after what had been a difficult few years for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta has signed a new three-year contract with Arsenal, extending his stay until 2027
He led the club to the FA Cup in 2019-20 after making an impressive impact, and his title changed from head coach to manager shortly after, demonstrating his growing influence at the club.
Arteta then oversaw a painful rebuild as he developed and brought in several young talents such as Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli, while also trading in several big names such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
After guiding the Gunners to two consecutive eighth-place finishes, Arsenal finished fifth in 2021-22, before narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Man City in the past two campaigns.
Arteta, who signed his previous contract in 2022, has won 139 of his 235 games in charge of the club and has helped completely transform the atmosphere at the Emirates.
The Spaniard has re-established the Gunners as a competitive force, while ensuring the club returned to the Champions League after a seven-year absence.
Arteta’s exploits have earned him admiring glances from Barcelona, but his new contract reaffirms the 42-year-old’s commitment to the club and will take his tenure beyond half a decade.
In March, Arteta recorded his 100th Premier League win as a manager, in seven fewer games than iconic former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
The Spaniard had already made 150 appearances for the club in five seasons, two of which he spent as club captain.
Arsenal have two wins and one draw from their opening three games of the season, though they face a tough game against Tottenham on Sunday with Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Declan Rice all unavailable through injury or suspension.
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