Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta set for huge pay rise after Champions League final | Football | Sport

Josh Kroenke has declared that securing Mikel Arteta‘s signature on a new contract is an utmost priority. Arsenal co-chair Kroenke insists Arteta remains wholly committed to the club, with negotiations already under way over a new two-year extension to reward the Gunners boss following his title triumph.

The north Londoners can complete an extraordinary double as they gear up to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday. Arteta can expect a substantial pay rise on his current £5million-a-year deal, which runs until 2027, with the club’s hierarchy determined to retain the Spaniard as he steers them towards a new era of dominance.

Kroenke, who has been revelling in the club’s first title triumph 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.

“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 also expressed confidence in Arsenal’s prospects of claiming the Champions League trophy for the very first time, while pledging the club’s full backing for Arteta in the summer transfer window.

Having splashed £250m last year, and with Arteta having spent nearly £1billion across his six-and-a-half years at the helm, the club are poised to strengthen again regardless of the final’s outcome — even though glory could help them secure top targets such as Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.

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.”