EPL: Arsenal offer Arteta new contract as Man City plan for Guardiola’s replacement

 

Arsenal is ready to offer manager Mikel Arteta a new contract before this season ends, SportsMail reports.

 

Arteta will be entering the final 12 months of his current deal in June.

 

The Gunners’ hierarchy is satisfied with Arteta’s work since he replaced Unai Emery two years ago and want to keep him at the club, despite the team finishing eighth in both his seasons in charge.

 

Arsenal is confident they are making progress under the Spaniard as he builds his team around young players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe.

 

Arteta also played a key role in persuading players to take temporary pay cuts at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Arsenal is also conscious that the expiry date of Arteta’s contract in the summer of 2023 coincides with Pep Guardiola’s planned departure date at Manchester City, and continued improvement at the Emirates could see him emerge as a successor.

 

The 39-year-old is happy at Arsenal and will welcome the talks. Any extension would lead to an increase on his £5 million salary, with Arsenal seeking to commit Arteta to the club for two more years.