Mikel Arteta insists he would ‘love’ to extend his Arsenal contract despite his deal close to entering its final 12 months. The Gunners boss is desperate to build a dynasty having overseen drastic improvements at the Emirates Stadium in his four-and-a-half-year tenure.
Arteta has broken up the Manchester City–Liverpool battle for the Premier League title which dominated the half-decade prior to last season. The North Londoners lead the top-flight by a point but City have the advantage with a game in hand.
The race for the title is likely to go down to the final day of the campaign. It will be a straight shootout between Arsenal and City, with Liverpool five points behind the league leaders following a slump in form.
Despite the Spaniard’s success, Arsenal are yet to renew his contract beyond the 2024-25 season. Arteta has allayed any fears that he could leave in the near future by promising that he wants to take the Gunners even further.
Asked about a contract renewal, the 42-year-old said: “I would love to do that. The demands here are so big and the expectation is going to be bigger and bigger.
“My job is to fulfil them and to find the tools and communicate in the right way. The hope and the ambition is to go much further than we are right now.”
Arsenal ideally need to win all of their remaining matches and hope that City drop points in their last four games to be sure of lifting a first Premier League trophy in 20 years. Victory over Bournemouth today will earn the North Londoners a joint-record 26th win in a single Premier League campaign, only matched by the Invincibles.
“Just focus and put all your energy and focus on finding that determination and that willingness to earn the right to win games,” Arteta said when asked if a record wins tally is important. “The first one is Bournemouth at home and there will be an unbelievable atmosphere. Be present and be in the moment. And let’s see what happens.”
Arsenal will play before City for the fourth matchweek in a row – including the weekend when City were on FA Cup duty. Asked if that has increased the pressure, Arteta responded: “It’s what it is.
“We’ve done it in many different scenarios this season. We’re clear. We have to win our game and then we have to wait and the only thing that we can focus on is that.”
