Arsenal have reached a crucial point of their long-term goal.
Mikel Arteta has just signed a new four-year deal, keeping him at the club until June 2030. There are also reports of Declan Rice being close to signing a contract extension.
After winning the Premier League last season, Arsenal will now be setting their sights on a sustained period of dominance.
But Arsenal’s success hasn’t come easy. Many were initially unsure with Arteta’s appointment and there were some rocky moments. However, Arsenal’s willingness to stick with the Spaniard through those moments is largely what has brought them to where they are today.
In this article, we’ll cover
Continuity in a league of change
Following Pep Guardiola‘s departure from Manchester City in the summer, Arsenal is now the longest-serving manager in the Premier League.
It comes at a time where Chelsea and Liverpool have joined Man City in changing managers between seasons. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also experienced managerial changes this year.
Arsenal’s continuity may just have become their biggest strength. The Gunners have given Arteta the opportunity to build a dynasty over the next three or four years, should he stay for his full contract.
The Gunners have already established their style of play, a core group of players who each know their roles in the team and a level of accountability between the staff, players and fans. And this has all happened while other teams are only just starting out on their journey.
Arteta’s approach
One of Arteta’s biggest achievements so far is the way he has built a network of players with a togetherness, mentality and tactical identity. It’s what led them to the Premier League title, and has them favourites to retain their crown this season.
Perhaps the most impressive feat of this Arsenal team — and what makes them so strong — is their defensive resolve. And that was built over a number of seasons. The Gunners conceded just 27 goals en route to the title last season, keeping 19 clean sheets.
This is the work and recruitment of many seasons now. Arteta has coached a strong defensive block with brilliant spacing, an excellent hybrid press which can shift between zonal and man-oriented schemes. Not to mention a team that absorbs pressure extremely well, with a desire to defend and keep clean sheets, which starts with the culture put in place.
The physical foundations built into this Arsenal team over a number of years contributed to their defensive success. But also their set-piece success which was a clear weapon in Arsenal’s title-winning campaign.
Heading into the 2026/27 campaign, the same foundations are evident. A solid defensive unit, set-piece threat and an in-possession system which helps to establish control on the ball.
Rotations have been a large part of that, especially over the past two seasons. Midfielders have been dropping into the first line, Martin Odegaardis roaming to provide a +1 in the build up and full-backs are occupying the last line, pinning the opposition backline and dragging forwards away to create tensions for the opposition press across the pitch.
Arsenal’s pillar stones
Arteta has been able to build a side with excellent tactical understanding. It largely comes down to the pillars in the squad who create the core of Arsenal’s overall network.
Gabriel and William Saliba give Arsenal the strongest centre-back pairing in the Premier League. They sit in front of the best goalkeeper in the Premier League — and arguably the world — in David Raya.
Another new contract on the horizon is Rice. The English midfielder is hugely important to the tactical flexibility and understanding of Arteta’s side, playing a key part in midfield rotations when dropping between the centre-backs. But he also often takes up a hybrid role in the press, utilising his athletic qualities and also his defensive IQ in the press.
Much like Rice, Odegaard is key to the rotations in possession to establish control and the pressing dynamics of the team.
But Bukayo Saka is the true pillar of Arsenal’s attack. A lot of their attacks often flow through him as the reference point.
That being said, injury problems have cropped up for the 25-year-old over the past 18 months, leading to a loss of his initial burst in 1v1 situations. It’s caused many to question whether he can impact the team in the same way.
While Saka may not be blowing past a defender in a 1v1 anymore, his sheer gravity on the pitch is still pivotal to Arsenal’s attack and the impact he can have in games, often attracting double or even triple teams at times, leaving others free elsewhere to recieve.
Saka also signed a new contract this year. With him, Rice and Arteta all committing their future to Arsenal in 2026, those pillars remain firmly in place to challenge for major honours in years to come.