Exit door opens for Arteta as jumpy Arsenal sweat over manager’s future

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 17 May 2024 12:19 BST
• 3 min read

Mikel Arteta has brought the good times back to Arsenal, but as the Gunners head into their final Premier League match of the season still with a shot at winning the title, there are some doubts over just how much longer he will remain at the club.

Arteta’s future has been brought into focus by a report from TBR that claims that the Gunners are getting edgy over the manager’s contract.

His current deal runs until 2025, making him a relatively cheap option for clubs interested in him.

READ MORE: Arsenal’s No.9 targets confirmed by Fabrizio Romano

Worryingly for Arsenal, one of those teams that they most feared pinching Arteta from them will have a vacancy arise.

Barcelona are on the verge of sacking Xavi. The deed hasn’t been done yet, but it is expected by the beginning of next week, there will be a void that needs filled at the Camp Nou outfit in the summer.

Arteta will inevitably be a candidate for the job and it is clear the exit door is open.

Barca have a part in the career path of the Basque, who played in their B team before moving to Rangers, Real Sociedad, Everton and, finally, Arsenal as a player.

READ MORE: Arteta reveals his personal transfer ‘disaster’

Arteta biding his time?

FootballTransfers reported in February that contract talks with Arteta were progressing. The Gunners were prepared to tie him down to a three-year deal that would have seen him receive a substantially higher salary than his current £9.5 million-per-year deal.

Arsenal wanted a substantially longer contract term than three years, but this is not something that Arteta would agree to.

Now the club is getting jumpy over negotiations, with the Emirates club pushing for the contract to be signed.

EXPLAINED: Why is Xavi being sacked by Barcelona?

There is no suggestion that Arteta will leave at this juncture, despite the vacancy at Barcelona cropping up.

He is said to have assured the club of his commitment and is pleased that he has been so well backed in the transfer market, but even this does not seem to have stopped the Arsenal board growing restless.

FootballTransfers understands that he has wanted to put his focus into the title race and the issue should be resolved swiftly once the season is concluded.