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Mikel Arteta has no plans to leave Arsenal despite links with Barcelona.
Arteta has already addressed suggestions he could exit Arsenal this summer, and firmly shut them down.
“No. That’s totally fake news,” he said in January. “I don’t know where that’s coming from, but it’s totally untrue and I’m very upset about it.”
Barcelona haven’t made an approach to Arteta to date, but it’s unsurprising he’s being linked and spoken of internally at the Catalan club.
Arteta was also considered by Barcelona in March 2021 prior to Ronald Koeman’s appointment, and given he played for Barcelona’s youth and B teams between 1997 and 2002, it would be strange if he wasn’t linked.
But Arteta is only focused on Arsenal and trying to win their first Premier League title since 2003/04, and go as far as possible in the Champions League.
The expectation is Arteta will sign a new contract at Arsenal with his current deal running until 2025.
Arteta is settled at Arsenal and views the project as stable. A move to Barcelona, as the outgoing Xavi has already found, is not easy. There is quite a bit of politics, plus financial challenges, to deal with.
Arteta is working well in the current structure at Arsenal and has a strong relationship with the leadership team, including sporting director Edu.
Barcelona will always have a big lure, but there’s no doubt Arteta would be walking into a far less stable club right now than Arsenal if he chose to leave, and I would be surprised, should an approach come, if he’d be tempted.
Chelsea are looking for a left-back this summer. That’s because Lewis Hall will join Newcastle for an initial £28m. Chelsea have already budgeted for his departure. The obligation to buy becomes official if Newcastle finish 15th or better in the Premier League.
Ian Maatsen is also expected to depart. The 22-year-old is having an excellent spell on loan at Dortmund. There is no…
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