Mikel Arteta signs three-year Arsenal contract amid fears he would join Barcelona in boost ahead of North London derby

MIKEL ARTETA has agreed a new three-year contract with Arsenal.

The Spaniard’s deal was due to expire at the end of this season, but he has now put pen to paper to keep him at the Emirates until 2027.

Mikel Arteta has extended his stay at the club until 2027AP

It will be a welcome boost to Arsenal fans ahead of the North London derby at Tottenham on Sunday.

The new deal will also alleviate concerns over Arteta after he was forced to deny reports of a switch to Barcelona last season.

According to The Athletic, Arsenal and Arteta agreed the new deal to “eliminate any uncertainty” over the manager’s future.

Arteta joined Arsenal in 2019, leaving behind his role as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.

He went on to win the FA Cup at the end of his first season in charge, though back-to-back eighth place finishes in the Premier League put him under pressure.

The Gunners narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification to Tottenham in 2022, but have gone from strength to strength since then.

Arsenal have finished runners-up behind Man City in each of the last two seasons.

In the 2022/23 campaign they spurned an eight-point lead, coming up short during the run-in.

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Last season they won their final six league games but still finished two points adrift of Man City.

Arteta’s record stands at 139 wins, 39 draws and 57 defeats from 235 matches – a win percentage of 59.15.

He has averaged 1.97 points per game, putting him narrowly ahead of iconic Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger – who averaged 1.96 across an 18-year spell.

Arteta’s side sit fourth after three games having won two and drawn one.

They dropped two points at home to Brighton before the international break when Declan Rice was sent off.