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Mikel Arteta said uncertainty over his long-term future at Arsenal “keeps me on my toes” but insisted he is focused on overhauling Manchester City after trailing in the Premier League title race. Arteta has a year remaining on the contract he signed in May 2022 and is believed to have held talks over an extension after finishing one point behind City
Those talks are believed to be at an end but Arteta, who is looking to add firepower to his squad and is believed to have targeted RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Cesko, said he used the situation as motivation after the title is missing.
“Football is about what we’re going to do today and what we hope you can do tomorrow,” he told CNN’s Amanda Davis. “[In] this profession with this uncertainty is quite useful. At the very least, it motivates me, keeps me on my toes, and keeps me hungry to go again.
“We have a great relationship with everyone at the football club. I’m really happy where I am and things will work themselves out.”
Reflecting on last season, Arteta said: “I’m a winner and it takes me a while when I don’t achieve my dreams. We should be very proud of what we have done this season, both in European competition and in the Premier League. But the feeling of being disappointed and not holding the Premier League in our hands is painful.
With Newcastle unwilling to sell Alexander Isak and any deal for the Swedish striker likely to be too expensive for Arsenal to comply with profitability and sustainability rules, Sesko is understood to have been identified as a potential target. The Slovenia forward has a €55m (£46.8m) release clause that expires at the end of June, with Leipzig owed €11m upfront under the terms of his contract, which spreads the payment over five years.
Chelsea have also been linked with the 21-year-old, who scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga last season, and Cesko’s camp are believed to want his future decided before Euro 2024 kicks off on June 14. Eddie Nketiah could be sold by Arsenal to make way for him, with Fulham and Crystal Palace both interested in signing the England striker.
Arteta, who revealed he had contacted Pep Guardiola to congratulate him on winning an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title, said Arsenal would “look again” at how they can improve. After spending more than £200m on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurien Timber last year, he hinted that this will not be a summer of big spending.
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Our focus has to be on what we already have internally,” Arteta said. “How can we be better? There are margins and there are players who can still develop and be better… [the players and staff] I want much more. They want to start lifting trophies and this is the next step.”
Arsenal have confirmed the departures of Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny following the expiry of their contracts. England Under-20 defender Reuel Walters is understood to have attracted interest from Rangers after rejecting a new contract.
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