Arsenal set to hand coach new deal

Arsenal are set to hand their manager Mikel Arteta a new contract before the end of this season, SportsMail reports.

This comes as Arteta will be entering the final 12 months of his current contract with the Gunners in June.

The reports from Emirate Stadium revealed the Gunners’ hierarchy is satisfied with Arteta’s work since he replaced Unai Emery two years ago.

Despite Arsenal finishing eighth in both his seasons in charge, they are willing to let him remain at the club.

Arsenal are confident they are making progress under the Spain international as he builds his team around young players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe.

Arteta also actively persuaded players to take temporary pay cuts at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is believers that part of the reason Arsenal want to extend Arteta’s contract is because the expiry date of his current contract in the summer of 2023 coincides with Pep Guardiola’s planned departure date at Manchester City, and with his continued improvement, Arteta could emerge as a replacement for Guardiola.