Arteta plays down contract concerns as Arsenal prepare for Community Shield

Mikel Arteta has moved to reassure Arsenal supporters that his contract situation is not a cause for concern, despite entering the final 12 months of the deal he signed in 2024. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield meeting with Manchester City, the Spaniard insisted talks over an extension would be resolved in due course.

“They don’t have to worry about any of that, because I want to be here,” Arteta told reporters. “I am extremely happy. I feel very grateful to work with the people that I work with and when we have the possibility, we will resolve that. And that’s it.”

No rush on paperwork

Arteta, who has been in charge at the Emirates since December 2019, guided Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years last season and also led the club to the Champions League final. With those landmarks achieved, many had expected a swift resolution to his contract over the summer, but formal talks have taken a back seat to squad business.

“There is always another priority, I think,” Arteta said. “And that’s the way we have been treating it, because everybody feels comfortable that the time on the contract is not going to be an issue. I think because my will, certainly, is to be here and I am very happy here. My feeling from the club is the same one. That is why everyone is doing things in a really organic way.”

Both manager and club are understood to be relaxed about the timing, with indications that a new deal will eventually make Arteta one of the best-paid managers in world football. The prevailing view inside the club is that finalising terms can wait for a quieter point in the campaign, with the transfer window still open until 1 September.

Busy summer in the market

Arteta has plenty to occupy him before deadline day regardless. Arsenal have added Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United, Greece international winger Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, and turned Piero Hincapié’s loan from Bayer Leverkusen into a permanent deal, with the trio said to represent a combined outlay of around £143.5 million. Goalkeeper Illan Meslier has also joined on a free transfer following his exit from Leeds United.

Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Christian Norgaard have departed as the squad is trimmed, while attempts to land Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Júnior fell short. Arsenal remain active in the market for a new winger and defensive cover, with Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah among the names being considered following injuries to William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.

Arteta’s focus for now turns to Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at Wembley, kick-off 3pm, as Arsenal look to open their season with silverware before the defence of their Premier League title gets under way.

Read more: Arsenal explore Osimhen move as Liverpool push for Barcola, Man Utd eye left-back

Sources

• Evening Standard
• BBC Sport

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.