Mikel Arteta has moved to calm Arsenal over his contract, saying supporters do not need to worry because he wants to stay and is extremely happy at the club. His deal is now in the final 12 months after being signed in 2024, but he says the timing is not a problem and that a renewal will be handled in the normal way.

Arteta's message on his future

Speaking to Sky Sports, Arteta said: "They 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".

He backed that up again when he told BBC Sport: "No, they don't have to worry about any of that because I want to be here, I'm extremely happy". The line that matters most is the one about timing, though, because Arteta also said everybody feels comfortable that the contract will not be an issue and that "my will certainly is to be here and I'm very happy here".

That is not the language of a manager drifting away. It is a manager saying he and the club are aligned, and that talks can stay organic while the season gets underway.

Arsenal's wider summer context

Arteta also tied the contract situation to Arsenal's push to improve the squad, saying it is "big that we want to improve the squad, we want to evolve the squad in order to achieve that". The club are still working in the window, and the deadline is 1 September.

The rest of the backdrop is fairly strong. Arsenal begin the new season first in the Premier League standings, they won 85 points last season, scored 71 league goals and conceded 27. They also went 8 from 8 in the Champions League and scored 23 goals while allowing only 4, which is why Arteta can talk about evolution rather than repair.

There is a minor version of the summer story that matters too. Some reporting says Arsenal spent a combined £143.5m on their incomings, while other coverage framed the business differently, but the common thread is the same: the club are still active and the manager is speaking from a position of strength.

Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday at 15:00 BST, and that is the first big date on the calendar before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →