Mikel Arteta reveals new Arsenal contract update before crunch title run-in | OneFootball

Gunners boss will go into next season with only one year left on his deal if agreement is not reached before then

Mikel Arteta declared that he still has "so much ambition" at Arsenal, but said there was no rush to agree a new contract.

Arteta and Arsenal are relaxed over the situation and have put off serious talks for now, with the full focus on delivering a first Premier League title in 22 years.

Those discussions are expected to pick up in the summer and while that has created some uncertainty, Arteta made it clear that he still views the job as a long-term project.

“Yeah, I'm fully committed here," Arteta said. "I'm really happy and I feel good. My family is good.

“I still have so much ambition and things to do in this football club and for now we are in a good place.”

On whether there had been fresh talks with the club, Arteta responded: "No, there's no news on that.

"I think we have no time to discuss that now. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season.”

Arteta is currently the second-longest serving manager in the Premier League, behind only Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

He has now been in charge at Arsenal for more than six years and although a new contract would take him towards the decade mark, Arteta is reluctant to look too far into the future.

“This is the job," he said. “It's about the present, what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person as well that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club.

“At the moment I feel that way and hopefully when I feel that way for the rest of the week, with a great outcome at the end of the season.”

The manager was instead keen to focus only on Arsenal's match at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, when they can move 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League before title rivals City head to Chelsea on Sunday.

Arteta issued a rallying cry to the Arsenal supporters, urging them to defy the lunchtime kick-off and create a raucous atmosphere.

“The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases, obviously, and tomorrow is a big day for us,” Arteta said.

“The players know it, our supporters know it. 12:30 kick-off. It's an early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner.

“Let's go all together for it because it has to be a big day.”