EPL

Mikel Arteta more focused on Arsenal’s silverware quest than new contract

By Sports Desk April 02, 2024

Mikel Arteta is “really happy” at Arsenal but content to wait for discussions on a contract extension as he concentrates on the club’s quest for silverware.

The Spaniard’s existing deal at Emirates Stadium expires next summer.

Title challengers Arsenal sit second in the Premier League table – two points behind leaders Liverpool with nine games to go – ahead of hosting struggling Luton on Wednesday evening.

The Gunners are also chasing European glory and next week begin their two-legged Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich.

Asked if there was an update on his contract situation, Arteta replied: “No, nothing.

“I am really happy. I still have a year in my contract, that’s a long time in football. The players are happy, the club is happy, no issues.

“I’m just focusing on the games and winning football matches and that’s the most important thing right now.”

Arteta succeeded fellow Spaniard Unai Emery as Arsenal boss on a three-and-a-half-year contract in December 2019 before agreeing a two-year extension in May 2022.

The 42-year-old suggested out-of-favour goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale could also remain in north London next season amid speculation linking him with top-flight rivals Newcastle.

England international Ramsdale, who joined the Gunners from Sheffield United in 2021, was ever present in the league last term but has since slipped to second choice behind David Raya.

“You know I’m not going to comment on those things,” Arteta said of the transfer speculation involving Newcastle.

“There is a big reality that Aaron is here (next season) because he’s our player and he’s got a contract.”

Related items

  • Man City star Foden scoops Premier League Player of the Year award Man City star Foden scoops Premier League Player of the Year award

    Phil Foden has been named the Premier League's Player of the Year, having been sensational for Manchester City this season.

    Foden has scored 17 goals and provided a further eight assists in the top flight in 2023-24.

    The 23-year-old has been pivotal in City's quest to win an unprecedented fourth Premier League title.

    Pep Guaridola's team head into their final game of the season, in which they face West Ham at home, needing a win to guarantee the crown.

    Only six players have bettered Foden's goal tally, with the attacker enjoying his most profitable scoring season for City.

    Foden's 17 goals have come from an expected goals figure of 10, suggesting his finishing has been way above what would have been anticipated based on the quality of chances he has had.

    The England international, meanwhile, has had 99 shots, and leads City's squad for chances created (68).

    "To win this award is an achievement that I am extremely proud of," Foden told Man City's official website.

    "Overall, I've been very happy with the way I have played this season and really pleased that I have been able to contribute with the goals and assists throughout the season.

    "I'd like to thank all of the City staff, coaches and especially my teammates because without them this wouldn’t be possible.

    "And I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for me as the award means a lot."

    It is the fifth season in a row that a City player has won the award, with Kevin De Bruyne (2019-20, 2021-22), Ruben Dias (2020-21) and Erling Haaland (2022-23) having scooped it previously.

  • Elneny to leave Arsenal following eight-year stint Elneny to leave Arsenal following eight-year stint

    Mohamed Elneny has confirmed he will be leaving Arsenal after the Gunners' final game of the season.

    Elneny is Arsenal's longest-serving player, having joined the Gunners from Swiss side FC Basel in January 2016.

    Signed by Arsene Wenger, the Egypt international has played under three managers, having also appeared for Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta.

    On Friday, the midfielder confirmed via a video on X (formerly Twitter) that his stint in north London was coming to an end.

    "Gooners, I'm here today to send you a message, to say goodbye and thank you for everything you've done for me," Elneny said in a video posted on X on Friday.

    "The love, the support and the kindness. I'm really going to miss you so much and you'll be in my heart forever."

    Elneny has played 161 times for the Gunners, who face Everton at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Arteta's team need to win if they are stand a chance of beating Manchester City to the Premier League trophy.

  • Fiorentina 2-2 Napoli: Kvaratskhelia keeps visitors' slim European hopes alive Fiorentina 2-2 Napoli: Kvaratskhelia keeps visitors' slim European hopes alive

    Dethroned Italian champions Napoli's hopes of playing European football next season are hanging by a thread after they played out a 2-2 draw at Fiorentina in Serie A on Friday.

    Napoli took the lead in the eighth minute through defender Amir Rrahmani, who nodded home a corner by Matteo Politano.

    Cristiano Biraghi levelled for Fiorentina in the 40th minute from a free-kick, before M'Bala Nzola put the hosts in front two minutes later when he fired a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

    Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia responded with another stunning free-kick early in the second half to rescue a point for his team.

    Eighth-placed Fiorentina, on 54 points and with a game in hand, are five points behind Lazio in seventh.

    They can still earn a Europa League spot either by leapfrogging the Rome side or by winning the Europa Conference League final in which they face Greece's Olympiakos on May 29.

    Ninth-placed Napoli, on 52 points, still have a slim chance of making the Europa Conference League playoffs.

    Data Debrief

    Fiorentina left-back Biraghi has now scored six goals from direct free-kicks since the start of 2021-22, which is behind only James Ward-Prowse (seven) - now of West Ham and formerly of Southampton - as the most across Europe's top five leagues in that period.

    Kvaratskhelia also levelled via a direct free-kick, making this the first Serie A match in which both teams scored via that route since Fiorentina against Lazio in April 2018 (Jordan Veretout and Luis Alberto in that case).

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.