Afternoon guys.

From Arsenal.com:

Josh Kroenke:

We’re delighted to have extended Mikel’s contract. Mikel is a dynamic and passionate manager, who is relentless in the pursuit of excellence. He has a deep understanding of Arsenal’s values, and since joining us as Head Coach in December 2019, he has taken the team to another level in an Arsenal way. There is a great collective team spirit at the club, and with the strong relationships we hold between us and belief in what we do, we look forward with excitement and confidence, as we continue our aim – to win together.”

Edu added:

We are really happy that Mikel has signed a new long-term contract. It’s a very positive and proud moment for everyone at the club and an important part of what we’re all working towards.
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. 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.

Finally, Mikel Arteta:

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. 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. Together with the players and everyone at the club, we are looking forward to the coming years, with our supporters, who have emotionally transformed the club and the team. Our supporters have transformed individuals and we are different now. You can tell that we are different and for me, that is down to them. We look forward to continuing the journey together.

I think it’s fair to say that everyone at the club is thrilled by the news that Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract and I’d imagine the majority of fans are too.

This transfer window might have closed with a feeling of slight disappointment but in the end, the squad is stronger defensively and we finally have a player who can give Bukayo Saka a break. The injury to Mikel Merino is just rotten luck, as is the injury to Riccardo Calafiori. If they and Martin Odegaard were fit for Sunday, you and I would be feeling confident of getting a result.

Josh Kroenke is right when he says “There is a great collective team spirit at the club, and with the strong relationships we hold between us and belief in what we do, we look forward with excitement and confidence, as we continue our aim – to win together.”

Before Arteta’s arrival, the club was in a mess. We had big named players with a big ego who were on ridiculous wages. I know this current board played their part in Aubameyang staying on longer than he should have but at the time, I could understand why extended his contract. The rest though, well they went. In their place came players who fitted into Arteta’s plans and apart from the odd one or two, they’ve been a success. All with the support of the board who in my opinion, shouldn’t be forgotten through this “process”.

You can see they’re a close knit group during a game. Just as you can see they’re working hard for each other as well as the manager and his staff. Team/squad spirit is crucial in every team sport and pre Arteta, Arsenal didn’t have it.

The big giveaway though is the fans. The fans believe again, or at least it seems most do. The Emirates Stadium is no longer a place to go if one wants to read a book in peace. North London Forever is sung loud and with pride and that’s down to Mikel Arteta. He’s the one responsible for the football and results. We’re not perfect, not by a long way but at least now he has three more years to get the club as close to perfection as he can.

Perhaps with a Premier League trophy along the way…

Catch up in the comments.

 

 

 

 

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading