Arteta Vows to Keep Working Hard After Signing New Arsenal Deal

Mikel Arteta says he is delighted with his new Arsenal deal and knows the hard work is not over, as he spoke publicly for the first time since signing the contract that keeps him at the club until 2030.

Speaking to reporters before Arsenal host Leeds United at the Emirates on Saturday, the Spaniard said the whole process left him and his family feeling grateful. 

“My family are very grateful to be able to enjoy this unbelievable right to continue,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

He was happy with the way the club went about the talks. “I said from the beginning that me and the club wanted the same thing but I loved the way it was handled,” Arteta said.

The moment he put pen to paper is the one he will remember most. “The most important thing is at the end, when you are about to sign, looking around the room and seeing excitement in their eyes,” he said.

But the Arsenal boss was quick to say the new contract does not mean he can relax, even after leading the club to the Premier League title. “That is it, now I have to earn the right every single day to continue at this level,” he added.

That attitude fits the standards he has set at the club, and the mood around the Sobha Realty Training Centre has been lifted by the news, with players and staff glad to have the stability.

Arteta’s focus now turns to Saturday. He wants his side to mark the occasion with three points against Leeds as they look to get back to winning ways and defend their title. The deal runs for the next four years, and he says he wants to bring more silverware to Arsenal in that time.