Mikel Arteta has agreed a new three-year contract to remain as Arsenal manager, sources tell ESPN.
The 42-year-old’s contract was due to expire next summer, although he told ESPN in an exclusive interview on July 4 that he “did not anticipate any problems” when extension talks took place and added last month that all parties would address the situation when the transfer window closed.
Arsenal were always confident that Arteta would commit his future to the club, but the news will still come as a boost as they attempt to dethrone Manchester City and win a first Premier League title since 2004.
The sources added that the Spaniard will receive a significant increase on his current salary of 9 million pounds sterling annually ($11.7 million).
Arsenal have finished second behind Manchester City for the past two seasons and have sought to close the gap by signing Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino over the summer, as well as the late arrival of Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea.
Sources told ESPN that Arteta played a prominent role in convincing these players to join the club, underlining how important he is to Arsenal’s quest for success.
The team travel to Tottenham on Sunday for the north London derby with major problems in midfield, with Merino already ruled out with a broken shoulder, Declan Rice suspended and Martin Odegaard facing a spell on the sidelines.
Odegaard was pictured using crutches as he returned to London after suffering an ankle injury while playing for Norway, and sources told ESPN he is likely to miss Sunday’s game and may have to remain on the bench for a longer period.
Norway’s doctor Ola Sand told Norwegian newspaper VG that Odegaard had not suffered a fracture, adding: “Such ankle injuries usually take at least three weeks. Anything else is just a bonus and after that it can take longer.”
Arsenal face a big week as they travel to Tottenham Hotspur for the first of three away games, including a trip to Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday, followed by a visit to Premier League champions Manchester City.
