EXCLUSIVE: Arteta opens talks over new Arsenal contract

Steve Kay

• Updated: 25 May 2023 13:24 BST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has started contract talks with the Emirates side over an extension to his current deal, FootballTransfers can reveal.

Arteta’s present contract with the Gunners expires at the end of the 2024/25 season, but the board are eager to tie down the Spaniard until 2028 as a reward for the progress that has been made over his tenure.

Arsenal will finish the campaign second in the Premier League having pushed Manchester City almost to the last and will make a return to the Champions League next term for the first time since 2015/16.

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Arteta’s reward is set to be both a longer contract and a significant increase in his wages.

Although neither Arsenal or Arteta are in a rush to put pen to paper, assurances have been to players such as Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard that the manager will be at the club for the long term.

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The 41-year-old’s commitment to the club is one of the reasons that a string of promising young stars have signed new contracts, with Saka the latest of these.

FootballTransfers has been informed that Arsenal want to get all their outstanding contract negotiations and transfer business done in time the pre-season, which begins on July 19 in the US with a friendly match against an MLS All-Star team.

William Saliba contract latest

William Saliba has yet to sign his new Arsenal contract, but FootballTransfers understands that everything is still in hand for the 22-year-old France international to extend his stay with the club.

Sources report that the delay has been due to minor disagreements in agent commission in the deal and that everything is otherwise progressing smoothly with regard the centre-back.

Arsenal will finish what has been a successful Premier League campaign at home to Wolves on Sunday.