Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta admits stars ask about his future double swoop mooted

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Six years have now passed since Mikel Arteta took the huge leap to take over as Arsenal boss without any prior experience as a head coach. It’s fair to say the former midfielder and captain has transformed the club , from one in decline both on and off the pitch to title contenders.

Yet, despite all he has done to position the Gunners among England and Europe’s elite, question marks remain over both his and his players’ ability to get over the line, having finished second in the Premier League in three consecutive seasons.

Arteta will be determined to put an end to those questions this term as the festive period ramps up with games coming thick and fast, as well as a potentially useful January transfer window on the horizon.

Now, Mirror Football takes a look at the manager’s recent comments about his Arsenal future, as well as potential signings he could make next month.

Arteta admits he can’t give his players any guarantees about his future at the moment. With 18 months left on his contract, fans remain anxious over their manager’s future until he puts pen to paper.

It seems some of his players may also share those concerns as they enter contract talks with the club themselves, with Bukayo Saka being one of the players whose deal is set to expire in the summer of 2027.

When asked whether he would stay beyond his current deal, the Spaniard responded: “Yes, but it is about today and a lot of things have to happen in the next few months, as well, to earn the right.

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“I think the manager has to earn the right to be here tomorrow. That is how you react, how you talk here, how you go in the dressing room, the message that you send, how much the players follow you.”

He went on to add: “They [Arsenal stars] do ask me but I can not lie to them. I don’t know, it is something that does not depend on me.

“Are you really happy here? Do you feel that you have the energy and you feel you can take this club? Yes. One hundred per cent, yes. But I think it does not depend only on me.”

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Reports claim Arsenal are planning a double transfer swoop in the January window. The Gunners were tipped for a quiet January due to their huge spending in the summer.

But CaughtOffside claims the north Londoners are concerned about injuries and squad depth as they eye an elusive Premier League title, leading sporting director Andrea Berta to look at options in the transfer market.

The two positions reportedly on his agenda are central defence and central midfield. Rennes’ 20-year-old starlet Jeremy Jacquet is a highly-rated name which has been mentioned as a potential January arrival, while Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is expected to leave as a free agent in the summer.

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