Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta signs 3-year contract extension

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta signed a three-year contract extension Friday to stay with the Premier League club through the 2024-25 season.

The former Arsenal midfielder has his team on the verge of Champions League qualification for the first time in five years. With four games left, the north London club is in fourth place.

The 40-year-old Arteta was hired in December 2019 to replace Unai Emery, and his contract was due to expire at the end of this season.

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Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta applauds his teams fans after the end of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Arsenal at the London stadium in London, Sunday, May 1, 2022. Arsenal win the game 2-1.  (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

"We want to take the club to the next level and to compete really with the top teams," the Spaniard said in a statement. "In order to do that, we have to be playing in the Champions League.

"We have to be able to evolve the team, improve our players, improve all departments, generate even more connection with our fans, improve the atmosphere at the Emirates (Stadium), be able to recruit top, top talent and the best people for this club to drive this project to that level."

Arsenal hosts Leeds on Sunday.

"Mikel's commitment and passion are clear for everyone to see," said Josh Kroenke, speaking on behalf of the Kroenke family ownership group. "We are confident that as we move forward, he will get us back to competing for the top trophies in the game."

Arteta spent the last five years of his playing career at Arsenal before retiring in 2016. He was an assistant coach under Manchester City