Mikel Arteta confirms plan to hold talks over Arsenal future as contract expiry nears

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has assured fans that he will sit down for talks with the club over his future “when the time is right”.

Arteta will have just one year remaining on his contract at Emirates Stadium when the Premier League season finishes on Sunday.

Since being hired in 2019, the Spaniard has performed an incredible job and could be about to win Arsenal their first league title in 20 years. The Gunners need to beat Everton and hope that current leaders Manchester City drop points at home to West Ham.

Arteta is predicting Sunday to be an “emotional” day whatever the result, but once the dust has settled he will hold talks over his future.

Asked about discussions over his contract situation, Arteta said: “That’s something that after the season, or whenever the right time is, we will talk and sit down.

“What is important is to win now, to keep believing that we can continue to win. That’s the important thing.

“Whatever happens, it will be very emotional on the day [against Everton]. It’s probably not the right moment to make any conclusions but afterwards we will have time to reflect.

“You have to go through the season we have to come to the point we have done and try to understand why. We have to find the ‘why’ and the ‘how’, we are going to do the next bit. That’s more important.”

Arteta has expressed a desire for Arsenal to continuing fighting for major honours and much of their success this season was down to getting their transfer business done early. That, however, could prove difficult this summer due to the fact the Copa America and Euro 2024 are taking place.

“Every club wants [to do their business early], we want that as coaches and for the players especially - then for the team and for the environment,” he said.

“When you do that something clicks there and it’s really important because it starts to give you momentum. But there are Euros this season and Copa America, so it might be a different summer.”

City are big favourites going into Sunday’s final day given they are unbeaten in 22 league games. They have also won seven league games in a row against West Ham and in that time conceded just four goals.

But Arteta said: “If I don’t believe today then imagine how much I could believe in August.

“Then from August with 38 games against Man City, with what they’ve done in the last 12 or 13 years, and what we’ve done in the last 20 years in the Premier League, we would have zero chance. We can’t start like this.

“We have to believe, that’s for sure.”