Arsenal make Man City powerplay with Mikel Arteta contract decision amid Pep Guardiola exit wait
Mikel Arteta became the first Arsenal manager since Arsene Wenger in 1999 and 2001 to finish second in back-to-back Premier League seasons, following the final day disappointment in the win over Everton. The iconic French boss would go on to win his second top-flight crown a year later and the Spaniard will be hoping to follow suit - etching himself in Gunners folklore.
After finding themselves in treacherous waters in light of Wenger's departure, there has been increasing positivity surrounding the Emirates Stadium since the former midfielder took over at the helm. Arteta has transformed fortunes in North London, taking Arsenal from a team meandering outside of the top four to upsetting the applecart to push Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
The 42-year-old has penned a three-year deal that will have been met with delight from Arsenal supporters around the globe. With the focus on the new campaign, there has been murmurs of uncertainty surrounding Arteta's future but the focus has been on usurping his former club at the summit - in what would've been his final season at the club, they have made a strong start picking up seven points from three games, ahead of the North London Derby on Sunday.
Arteta, however, has fielded questions on his future in recent months. "[In] this profession having this uncertainty is quite helpful," he said over the prospect of heading into his final year in charge. "At least, it motivates me, keeps me on my toes, and it keeps me hungry to go again.
"We have a great relationship with everybody at the football club. I’m really happy where I am and things will take care of themselves." If the transfer business during the summer, that saw Raheem Sterling, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino join the club, didn't send a message then the recent move from the Arsenal hierarchy certainly has.
Premier League managers have a finite career at the best of times, often many highly-rated tacticians suffer from the ruthlessness of top-flight owners or the helter-skelter nature of the league. Arteta has been at the thick of it in his ride as a football manager but six seasons in, he has more than earned his stripes.
READ MORE: Triple Arsenal title boost ahead of North London Derby as Mikel Arteta given Man City hope
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has new Ethan Nwaneri plan after latest Arsenal injury setback
Arsenal are more than aware of what impact not having a succession plan in order can have. Manchester United do too and are arguably still suffering the hangover from Sir Alex Ferguson's exit, 11 years on. Liverpool do appear to have weathered a possible storm with the appointment of Arne Slot after Jurgen Klopp, or so the easy signs suggest.
The Gunners have moved to eradicate the possibility of six years work being handed over to a new custodian. As history has proved, not having a contingency plan in place has proved problematic. Whether Arteta's future was becoming increasingly precarious will never truly be known but three games into the season, any element of doubt has been washed away with the decision to commit to a new deal.
Should the saga have dragged on and unravelled into a dominant news story, doubts would have been prominent at the Emirates Stadium. Pep Guardiola, who Arteta was a deputy to during his time in Manchester, faces an uncertain future as he too is in the final year of his contract.
The trophy-winning Spaniard sparked a frenzy with his comments on his future at the Etihad Stadium last season, following a fourth successive Premier League triumph. "The reality is I'm closer to leaving than to staying," he said.
"It's eight years, will be nine. Right now my feeling is I want to stay next season. We talked with the club, we have time to talk next season because I have to see the players as well, if they follow me, they follow us.
"I want to stay next season. During the season, we will talk. But after eight, nine years..." As a result, the suggestion was that one Spaniard could replace another. Former City defender Danny Mills suggested as much.
"Mikel Arteta is the best man to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City," he said. "Without a shadow of a doubt. He's worked with Pep, he knows the way City play and he can come in with the same level of intensity as him."
Man City have a dynasty in the Premier League, with a Champions League trophy in tow, their stronghold in England and Europe may be coming to an end under Guardiola but with the extension of Arteta, Arsenal can mount their own challenge. The foundations are already well laid, Arsenal have to capitalise on the groundwork.