Mikel Arteta reveals timeline for Arsenal contract talks

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he expects the club's attention to turn to his expiring contract once the transfer window closes next week.

Arteta has entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, sparking concern among fans that they could lose their manager, although the boss has always publicly stressed his commitment to the club and his expectation that negotiations over an extension will be simple.

With Mikel Merino close to becoming the third senior signing of the summer for Arsenal, Arteta stressed the Gunners are close to being able to focus on sorting out his future later this year.

"The focus has been on the transfer window," he explained. "We had quite a lot of things to do and discuss.

"We are on it and we will take care of that in the right moment. I am very grateful first of all for where I'm sitting and the people I work with every single day because it's really difficult to find that harmony, trust, belief and alignment in the vision.

"It's something I always mention because I believe we still have an unbelievable time ahead of us. It's very exciting and I am very excited about it."

Asked whether he could emulate Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp by remaining tied to one club for nine years, Arteta added: "I see today and tomorrow. That is the reality as managers and we have to live with that urgency.

"Looking two, three years down the line, you have to plan because what happens to the club afterwards depends on how good the results we get are - that's it. That's the reality. In the meantime, do your best and enjoy it if you can."

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have both been credited with interest in Arteta in the past. The former hired Hansi Flick on a two-year deal this summer, while Luis Enrique's deal with the French champions runs until the end of the current campaign.

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