by Lewis Ambrose

As early as April questions were being asked of Arsène Wenger and Mikel Arteta as the Arsenal captain approached the end of his contract.

Before the FA Cup semi-final against Reading the Arsenal captain was adamant that he would get a new deal as long as he proved his fitness.

“My only aim is to get back fit and try to perform on the pitch,” said the captain.

“As long as I do that I am sure that I will continue with this club.

“If I don’t do that then I am not going to be here because I don’t want to be somewhere where I cannot perform at my best and give what I think I can give.

“In May, when everything is fine, we will sit down and talk and it will take five minutes.”

He reiterated his desire at the press conference for the FA Cup Final just over a month later, but there was still no deal announced.

“I will discuss my future after the final. It has been a strange season from me since November, with my injury,” he told the media.

“I would love to [stay at Arsenal].”

The Arsenal captain has now signed a new deal, which was announced by the club last week, and he has explained why it took so long to be announced.

“We had a chat in the middle of the season with the manager, Ivan [Gazidis] and Dick [Law] and I knew exactly what they were thinking about me,” Arteta told Arsenal.com in Singapore.

“My desire was to stay here so I was very relaxed about signing it. We left it until the end, we got it signed and I am so pleased to stay here.

“I was injured for the last six months with an ankle surgery, that’s why I wanted to wait, to see how I was feeling about the end of the season and if I could have another go at this level.” 

It is clear that the club were always keen to extend with a player who is seen as important in the dressing room as well as on the pitch. Now his future is settled, Arteta can focus on staying fit and helping Arsenal have the best season possible.