Mikel Arteta pledges long-term future to Arsenal to rubbish Barcelona links

29 January 2024 , 22:30

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Mikel Arteta pledges long-term future to Arsenal to rubbish Barcelona links

Mikel Arteta has pledged his long-term future to Arsenal by insisting he wants to oversee the next generation of success.

‌Spanish giants Barcelona have got Arteta on their managerial hit-list but the Arsenal manager says he is going nowhere and has unfinished business at the Emirates.

‌Arteta has 18 months left on his contract, Arsenal will look to tie him down with a new deal and the Spaniard expects his young squad to come of age and enjoy years of success.

‌Gunners boss Arteta said: “We all share that ambition and you can feel it as well, that we want more, that we aren't satisfied and that the club wants to take another push and another level in everything we are doing, this is where we are.

‌“I am in the right place. I am with the right people. I feel really good about it. And, as I said many times, I am invested in a beautiful journey with this football club, with these players, these staff, our people, and there is still a lot to do.

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‌“We need everyone on board to achieve it and I am certainly on board. I have a strong belief and I think we are on the right path, we have to be on our toes and we have to take every opportunity because the competitors are also ruthless.

‌“We have to be on top of everything if we want to achieve that. In general, there’s still a lot to squeeze from every department, in every aspect, we can become much bigger and better than we are.”

‌Arteta went close to winning the title last season, Arsenal backed him in the summer with a £105m record deal for Declan Rice and the close relationship between the hierarchy of Jose Kroenke and sporting director Edu is key.

Reports in Spain had linked Mikel Arteta with a summer exit (ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

‌They have a chance to close the gap on leaders Liverpool at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night but are sweating on the fitness of Declan Rice and also Brazil defender Gabriel.

‌But despite Thomas Partey returning to full training, Arteta says he will not be risked at Forest. Arteta added: “We are better when Thomas is in the team.

‌“He always looks strong. That’s not the issue, it’s that we need him to have a big impact in the next two months. He is a player who can really impact the team in a really powerful way. We need him fit and available. It makes us better.”

John Cross