Mikel Arteta Reveals Key Question He Asked Before Signing Arsenal Deal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed the reasons he decided to commit his future to Arsenal, after spending nearly seven years at the club. The Spaniard has signed a new deal keeping him at the Premier League champions until 2030, and has stated that his desire, energy and passion for the game were crucial to his decision to extend his stay. 

The Gunners boss was asked if he had any doubts about signing a new contract and admitted that it was extremely important to reflect on his personal motivations as well as the people and environment that surround him at the club. 

‘You have to sometimes stop and think for how long can you do this as well, and not only doing it here, but it's for yourself,’ Arteta explained.

He continued, ‘Do you have the right level of desire, the energy, the people around you, the way they look at you when you talk? My feeling was yes, and if that feeling changes one day, we'll look at our eyes and that's it, it's simple.’

Arteta's comments emphasise how important it is to maintain his personal drive, which is needed to manage a football club at the highest level. For Arteta, it isn't just about continuing with Arsenal but ensuring he still has the right amount of motivation to keep leading the club in the right direction.

The 44-year-old was also questioned on whether he would ever reach a point in his career where he would consider stepping away from management for some time. However, Arteta stated clearly that he is not considering this at all and that he is motivated more than ever to manage Arsenal. 

The boss questioned, ‘A break? To stop doing what I do? At the moment, it's not in my head, because I love so much what I do’. 

‘I wake up every morning and I have this energy. A lot of people say, Mikel, you need to rest sometimes on this. But the reality, and I'm honest, sometimes I take a break during the day, I go back and I start to work on something, I get more energy because I love what I do.’

Arteta also added that his passion for football actually leaves him feeling more energised and excited rather than feeling drained by the job’s demands, and explained that he feels fortunate to work within a club and area he genuinely loves. He was also asked if he could see himself continuing in management for another ten or 15 years.

‘I don't know. I think I'm still really young, and this is just my first experience as well, and that is probably the way I live my profession,’ he said.

He also addressed the discussion surrounding the pressure and stress associated with managing a bigger football club. He acknowledged the challenges he has experienced in his career, but he does not place his work in that category. He continued to talk about the importance of his love for football and the elements that keep him so motivated.