By TARA ANSON-WALSH, FOOTBALL REPORTER and ISAAN KHAN, REPORTER
Published: 13:22 BST, 15 August 2026 | Updated: 13:43 BST, 15 August 2026
Mikel Arteta has moved to quell any doubts about his Arsenal future despite entering the final year of his contract.
Arteta ended Arsenal's 22-year wait to win the Premier League in May, while the club's co-chairman Josh Kroenke said after that victory that tying the Spaniard to a new deal was an 'utmost priority'.
No deal appears to have materialised as of yet, however, although Arteta stressed that all parties are merely focused on other priorities and that he is 'extremely happy' at the club.
Ahead of Sunday's Community Shield clash with Manchester City in Cardiff, Arteta said: 'They (the fans) don't have to worry about any of that, because I want to be here. I am extremely happy. I feel very grateful to work with the people that I work with and when we have the possibility, we will resolve that. And that's it.
'There is always another priority, I think! And that's the way we have been treating it, I think because everybody feels comfortable that the time on the contract is not going to be an issue.
'I think because my will, certainly, is to be here and I am very happy here. My feeling from the club is the same one. That is why everyone is doing things in a really organic way.'
Arsenal's co-chairman Josh Kroenke said after winning the Premier League that tying Arteta down to a new deal was an 'utmost priority'
The 44-year-old joined the club as head coach in December 2019, three years after retiring from the side as a player, and has brought a period of sustained success.
After winning the FA Cup with Arsenal in his second year in charge, he made Arsenal title challengers, finishing second in three consecutive seasons between 2023 and 2025 before guiding them to their first Premier League title since 2003-04 last season.
Last season he also took Arsenal to their first Champions League final in 20 years, but they were ultimately defeated on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta, who has previously warned that success is the 'new standard', admitted that he has been left surprised by the summer's transfer fees as the club hunts for reinforcements.
The likes of Morgan Rogers, who was pursued by the Gunners, signed for Chelsea for £117m. Manchester City have also signed Elliot Anderson for £116m and Tottenham paid Newcastle £100m for Sandro Tonali. The north London club, meanwhile, have been reluctant to pay over the odds for players.
Their marquee signing, Bruno Guimaraes, was brought in for £75m after a protracted saga, while they also paid £34m for striker Christos Tzolis and made Piero Hincapie's loan move permanent for £35m.