Mikel Arteta’s agent has claimed that the Arsenal captain, has signed a one-year contract extension with the Premier League club, which will tie him up at the Gunners until 2016.
Arteta, 32, signed a four-year deal when he joined from Everton in 2011 and that contract was due to expire this summer.
However, his agent and close friend, Inaki Ibanez, has told footmercato.net that his client will still be at the Emirates Stadium next season.
“Mikel is no longer free next June, because he now has an extra year on his contract,” Ibanez said.
It had been feared that, Arteta might have played his last game for Arsenal after limping off during his club’s 2-0 Champions League defeat of Borussia Dortmund in November with an injury.
That injury has since been compounded by an ankle problem that has ruled the Spaniard out until April.
The Spaniard, who was made Arsenal’s club captain following the departure of Thomas Vermaelen last summer to Barcelona, has made just seven Premier League appearances this season.
A contract extension is suffice for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta offers experience on and off the pitch. However, Arsenal fans will be hoping that Arteta’s contract extension, won’t mean that Wenger will not purchase the much needed defensive midfielder, that Arsenal fans are craving for.
Arsenal fans will now hope Francis Coquelin follows suit.