Josh Kroenke announces Arsenal's promise to Mikel Arteta - 'An utmost priority'

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Josh Kroenke has promised tying Mikel Arteta to a new contract is an “utmost priority.”

Arsenal co-chair Kroenke insists Arteta is fully committed to the club and talks have begun over a new two-year extension to reward the Gunners boss after his title success. The Gunners can make it an unprecedented Double as they prepare to face Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday.

Arteta can expect a big increase on his current £5m-a-year deal which expires in 2027 with the hierarchy determined to keep the manager in place to guide them to a new era of success.

Kroenke, who has been celebrating the club’s first title in 22 years, said: “If there is a singular person you can trace this all back to, I’m going to give 100 per cent credit to Mikel, his staff and the players. Those are the ones.

“As much as Mikel is putting together our tactics, the players have got to go play the games, they’ve got to go and win for you.

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“Keeping Mikel around is an utmost priority and I think the good news for Arsenal fans worldwide is he’s enjoying the project, he’s enjoying being here and from his time as a player all the way up until now, he’s an Arsenal man through and through.”

Kroenke says he believes Arsenal have a strong chance of winning the Champions League for the first time and also insisted they are ready to back Arteta in the transfer market again this summer.

They splashed £250m last year, Arteta has spent nearly £1billion in his six-and-a-half years in charge and they are ready to go again irrespective of what happens in the final - even though winning may help them land top targets like Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.

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Kroenke added: “The Champions League is more open. But top to bottom in the Premier League . Wow. I'm very proud. Especially after coming so close for so many years.

“Hopefully that's a good message to send out to boys and girls worldwide. Sometimes you've got to fail to succeed. And if you come up short, just keep trying.

“We've had some conversations about different things and how they're starting to take shape. But I think it's a good boost and a great question.

“And maybe there is some opportunity that we're not aware of that comes out of this success. But I think win or lose, our plans were our plans. And we were going to continue to do that even if the results weren't what we wanted.”