Mikel Arteta confident of new Arsenal contract - 'It will happen!'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is confident that a new contract with the club is just around the corner.

Arsenal have been a club transformed under Mikel Arteta over the last couple of seasons with the club reaping the rewards of sticking to the plan with the Spaniard and navigating the troubled waters of a couple of years ago.

Now, the Gunners are genuine Premier League title challengers, and one could make the case, Champions League challengers, too. As such, with Arteta's current deal with the club set to run out in the summer of 2025, we haven't heard too much about a possible extension...until now.

In an exclusive chat with ESPN, Arteta has revealed that he is confident that a new deal will be forthcoming.

"Things happen in a natural way and our relationship is that good that I don't predict any issues happening," Arteta said. "But things have to develop in the right way and it will happen."

With Arsenal having now pushed Manchester City all the way in the title race, but falling short each time, this summer looms large for the club to bring in the talent necessary to compete with Pep Guardiola's juggernaut.

There is an emphasis on raising the floor of the squad, instead of improving the first XI, but the Gunners are clearly in the buying mood, and one imagines that if Arsenal gets its targets, and Arteta can steer the club to its first title since 2004, then that extension will be as good as done.

Until then, it is Arsenal's preseason schedule that will take center stage before the club embarks on what it hopes will be a successful 2024/25 domestic campaign.