After agreeing to a lucrative new contract at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has emerged as one of the Premier League’s highest paid managers.

On May 29, Mail Sport revealed that the Spaniard was about to begin formal negotiations with the Gunners regarding an extension that would see him receive a substantial pay boost over his current £9 million-per-season contract.

Everyone involved at the time was extremely confident that the talks would conclude positively, and on Thursday the Gunners announced that their manager had inked a contract that would keep him through the end of the 2026–2027 campaign.

In the midst of appraising looks from elite teams throughout the continent, the announcement secures the services of one of European football’s most spectacular coaches.

Right now, Pep Guardiola is the highest paid manager in the Premier League, taking home almost £20 million annually.

Although Arteta’s salary raise does not match that of his compatriot, the 42-year-old is now much closer to the financial package that the Manchester City manager receives.

Arteta remarked, “I feel extremely proud, very excited, and am looking forward to what is coming next,” upon the announcement of his new contract. I’m happy with my situation and the connections I have with all of the club members.

I consider myself really fortunate to work with wonderful people every day and to have the goals we do here. I’m feeling incredibly motivated, pushed, and supported, and I want to accomplish a lot more than we have achieved so far.

“We are excited for the upcoming years with our supporters, who have emotionally transformed the club and the team, along with the players and everyone at the club.”

“People who have supported us have changed us, and we are now different.” You can tell that we are not the same, and in my opinion, it is because of them. We are eager to travel together in the future.

Arsenal has a significant advantage going into this weekend’s North London derby against Tottenham because to the new contract. 

The confirmation came from the official Arsenal X account, which shared a picture of Arteta with Edu, the sporting director, along with the message, “Belief in what we do.” Mikel Arteta has pledged to The Arsenal for the foreseeable future.

“We are very happy that Mikel has signed a new long-term contract,” Edu continued. It’s a significant milestone that the entire club is striving towards and a really happy and proud occasion for everyone. 

After the Gunners had a challenging few years, Arteta took over at the Emirates. Arteta developed his coaching abilities as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Man City for three years between 2016 and 2019.

After making a significant effect and winning the FA Cup in 2019–20, he was promoted from head coach to manager, a move that indicated his increasing power within the team. 

After that, Arteta led a reconstruction, trading in major names and high earners like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for various young stars including Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, and Gabriel Martinelli. 

Arsenal finished fifth in 2021–22 after leading the Gunners to two consecutive eighth-place finishes. In the next two seasons, they lost to Man City in the Premier League title race.

Having signed a contract extension in 2022, Arteta has guided the team to 139 victories in 235 games and has revolutionised the atmosphere at the Emirates.

The Spaniard has done a similar job of reviving the Gunners’ competitiveness; in addition to winning the Community Shield in 2020 and 2023, he made sure the team qualified for the Champions League again before the previous season, ending a seven-year absence.

Barcelona gave Arteta some admiring looks because of his accomplishments, but his new contract with Arsenal solidifies his dedication to the team and extends his stay beyond five years.

In March of last year, Arteta became the manager to record the 100th Premier League victory, seven games ahead of the legendary Arsene Wenger of Arsenal.