Arsenal news: Club sent stark ‘ultimate test’ warning after Mikel Arteta signs new contract

Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract with Arsenal to give the club a much-needed boost going into the North London Derby against Tottenham in the Premier League

Arsenal are gearing up for a return to Premier League action after a damaging and difficult international break.

Injuries to Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori during Nations League matches for Norway and Italy have left a sour taste for Mikel Arteta. And they could hardly have come at a worse time, with a trip across north London to face rivals Tottenham awaiting on Sunday afternoon.

With Declan Rice suspended following his red card against Brighton, the midfield is an obvious area of concern for the Tottenham game. There’s also frustration around the appointment of referee Jarred Gillett – someone who Arteta has history with.

But amid all the worries, there was some good news this week for Arsenal, with Arteta committing himself to the club by signing a new contract until 2027. The Spaniard has the club on an upwards trajectory and the hope is that some silverware is on the way. Here are the latest headlines involving Arsenal.

Arteta excited

The Arsenal manager spoke glowingly of the club and what is coming next after putting pen to paper on a new contract. “I feel extremely proud, very excited and am looking forward to what is coming next. I’m proud to be where I am and have the relationships that I have with everyone at the club,” he said.

“I feel extremely lucky to work every single day with good people and the ambition we have here. I feel very inspired, I feel challenged, I feel supported and I want to do much more than what we’ve already done together.”

Arteta had been in the final year of his previous contract, so the news comes at a good time and will allow Arsenal to put plans into place for the coming years.

Arsenal’s stability hailed

Arteta was first appointed Arsenal manager in 2019 and it’s fair to say he has helped transform the club over the past five years. He’s worked alongside sporting director Edu to do so and the ex-Brazil international is delighted.

“Mikel has shown his qualities since the very first day he joined us, not only as a football manager, but as a person with wonderful values,” he said.

“We have a strong belief in what we are doing and what we want to achieve together. Mikel’s new contract gives us stability and clear direction as we aim for new heights.”

Ultimate test on the horizon

Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has spoken exclusively to Mirror Football ahead of the north London derby. He believes that with Odegaard injured and Rice suspended, Arsenal’s squad depth will really be tested on Sunday – and that, ultimately, will define their season.

“This is the final hurdle, when you have players injured and suspended,” he said. “This is where the squad depth counts, which Mikel has been working on. Some of the squad players need to step up now. That’s the difference with Man City. Every one of their squad players would start at any other club.

“Arsenal are slowly getting there but this is the ultimate test. They didn’t have many injuries last year so this will test Mikel and his capacity to deal with the injuries.”

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