Viktor Gyokeres deal, Thomas Partey decision – Arsenal next key decision after Mikel Arteta contract

Arsenal have continued their long-term plan to become one of football’s best teams by agreeing a new deal with Mikel Arteta that will keep him at the Emirates Stadium until 2027.

Arteta is currently in the final 12 months of his deal in north London having joined the Gunners from Manchester City at the end of 2019. Now approaching five years in charge, the Spaniard is close to signing a new deal.

Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba have all signed contract extensions as signs of the club’s intent to break into the elite bracket of the game. Beyond them, there are a number of players who could be the next to commit their future and help continue Arteta’s rebuild in north London.

Arsenal have done superbly well in improving Arteta’s squad in a timely manner in recent years. After the double signing of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko in 2022, Declan Rice significantly bolstered the midfield for a club-record fee in 2023 and Riccardo Calafiori added another option in defence.

The summer transfer window hadn’t even closed and the priority for 2024 was clear as day. After not signing a new striker, much has been made of the Gunners’ need for someone to lead the line.

Arteta’s new deal means the Spaniard is here to stay meaning he could be in charge for eight years. Arsenal are in a good place to win the Premier League title this season, but if they don’t, more pressure will be placed on getting a new number nine through the door.

Who that player is, I have no clue. But the next task has to be improving the options at centre-forward.

A new contract for Mikel Arteta is brilliant news for Arsenal with the club and the team going strength to strength under his guidance. While there were no worries that he was going anywhere, eliminating that possibility over adds extra stability to the club.

For Arsenal, their attention should now turn to making decisions over the future of two players who are out of contract in less than a year. Both Jorginho and Thomas Partey’s deals run out next summer, meaning that they could sign a pre-contract to join a new club on a free transfer as early as January.

The signing of Mikel Merino in the summer window means that they are both probably now not first choice in Mikel Arteta’s side. But, given the situation the team finds itself in for the north London Derby with injuries and suspensions in the middle of the park, it shows the value of having strength in depth in the squad.

Clubs have already been linked with an interest in Partey. Arsenal now must decide if they ae willing to offer him and/or Jorginho a new contract, if they are open to allowing them to leave for nothing next summer, or if they are to try and cash in when the January window opens.