Mikel Arteta has set his sights on winning “a lot of major trophies” after signing a new contract with Arsenal.
Arteta’s previous deal had been due to expire at the end of this season, but he has agreed terms on a new one that will run until 2027.
The Spaniard has transformed Arsenal since being hired in 2019 and won the FA Cup in his first season.
The Gunners have come second to Manchester City in the Premier League in each of the past two seasons and they made the quarter-finals of the Champions League last year, too.
Arteta is hungry to add silverware and, when asked what he wants to have achieved in the next five years, he replied: “I would say a lot of major trophies.
“But at the same time, that is always us and we are unique and we do our things in our own way.
“The joy of the people, whether they are the players, the staff, the board, the ownership or the supporters, that they really feel attached to the club and how we do things. For me, this is the biggest value that any club, any brand, can have.
“Then we have to add trophies to that, for sure, and we will do our best to achieve that.”
Arteta endured some rocky moments during the early part of his tenure at Arsenal, but he has turned them into title contenders.
The 42-year-old has united the fan base and he believes the culture of the club is vital to their success.
“I feel very lucky because I feel loved,” he said. “I feel respected but I feel loved. I feel a really special connection between us and I think the players feel the same thing. When that goes beyond just your work or what you’re trying to deliver, that becomes really, really powerful and I think that’s a strong point that we have at the club.
“They have given a lot in very difficult moments and that’s what made it unique because when everything goes well it is easy to jump on the boat, but when times are more difficult and we have to get there and we needed them so much. I think emotionally they have transformed the club and they have transformed individuals and we are different now. For me, that is down to them.”
Arsenal have made an unbeaten start to the new Premier League season and next face a trip to rivals Tottenham.
We have to be able to be the best version of ourselves every single day to achieve that
The Gunners have aspirations of ending their now 20-year wait to win the title and, when asked about what his main objective is now, Arteta said: “To win - it has to be that.
“It has to be that aim, but understanding that we have to enjoy the process. We have to be able to be the best version of ourselves every single day to achieve that.
“The outcome, we can’t control it. The process of every single day doing the right thing, thinking out of the box, our commitment, our determination, how we can win matches from every angle in the game, outside the game, our determination - our vision, that has to be every single day at the front. Then, the end result, we want it. The margins are so small and I think we’re going to be close.
“We are unique and we do our things in our own way. The joy of the people, whether they are the players, the staff, the board, the ownership or the supporters, that they really feel attached to the club and how we do things. For me, this is the biggest value that any club, any brand can have. Then we have to add trophies to that, for sure, and we will do our best to achieve that.”
