Mikel Arteta has revealed his Arsenal players have been asking him for months about whether he would be signing a new contract.
Arteta, whose previous contract was due to expire next year, penned fresh terms at Arsenal on Friday until 2025.
The new deal is reward for the work Arteta has done at Arsenal this season, with the club currently sat fourth in the Premier League and on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League.
After a difficult spell, including three losses at the start of this season, Arteta has steadied the ship and he revealed that players had been asking for updates on his contract situation.
“They found out this morning [that I had signed a new contract],” said the manager on Friday.
“Some of them have been asking me for months because they have questions about their individual futures, because they read some news as well and that is not something I want to be talking about.
“I want zero distraction about that so this afternoon that’s done. It’s clear for the future and now the focus is on Leeds.”
Arsenal and Arteta were keen to sort his contract now, so as to make incoming players, and those deciding about signing a new contract, clear what the future was.
“We can explain to the players so when you are discussing the possibility of prolonging their stay, or recruiting someone who’s playing for a different club, you have to explain how you are going to do it, and in detail so they know and expect clearly what they are going to believe in if they join our club,” he said.
“In order to do that, the club thought it was the best moment to do it.”
