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Mikel Arteta's drive for success knows no limits. "I feel good, different, hopefully better. More excited than ever. Hungrier than ever," he proclaimed after Arsenal kicked off the defense of their Premier League crown with a win over Manchester City in the Community Shield.
That hunger won't be satisfied by a new contract, which has been kept under wraps as carefully as the masterpieces in the Louvre and described by the Daily Mail as a "bumper" pay rise. There will always be another summit to conquer, with Arteta's stated goal of transforming Arsenal into "the best club in the world."
Securing the future of a manager of Arteta's caliber is a stride in that direction, but the greatest challenge for those in charge at north London is locking down their top players on new deals. The likes of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel have all been handsomely rewarded since the summer of 2025, yet several key figures still need to be tied down.
3. Martin Odegaard
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2028
It's hard to believe that Martin Ødegaard's departure was ever entertained by some supporters. The club's inspirational captain was plagued by a string of unfortunate injuries last season, disrupting any consistency in his game. Yet, that didn't prevent him from finishing a title-winning campaign as Arsenal's top assist provider in the Premier League.
Those lingering doubts have been silenced by an impressive World Cup with Norway and an equally commanding start to the club season. Ødegaard has "a point to prove," according to Arteta. "I sensed from the first day that he joined [in preseason] that he has something else in the belly that he wants to prove and show." Upon returning from the United States, Ødegaard used the gym of a nearby school to stay in shape before even rejoining Arsenal's training setup.
Beyond his exceptional on-pitch abilities, it's the less tangible qualities that make the 27-year-old so indispensable to the club. Ødegaard serves as the bridge between the squad and the coaching staff, Arteta's on-field embodiment and the players' voice in the manager's office. He is always the first to welcome any new arrival and the last to stay in touch with those who have departed.
If the message he's trying to send is one of enduring value to the team, the captain has made a persuasive argument so far.
Every Arsenal Player Out of Contract in 2028
2. David Raya
Age: 31
Contract expires: 2028
"Sometimes," Arteta reflected at the close of last season, "I think we take some of the things he does as normal when they're not."
Goalkeeper has long been one of football's most underappreciated positions, and it would be easy for David Raya's contributions to go unnoticed given the solidity of the defense ahead of him. However, the ball does occasionally slip past Gabriel and William Saliba—yet that's frequently where it comes to a halt.
Raya topped the entire Champions League last season in 'goals prevented,' an advanced metric that factors in the speed, trajectory and positioning of every shot on target to estimate how many goals an average goalkeeper would be expected to concede. Raya allowed just five on the road to the final, less than half of what was anticipated, per FotMob.
1. Declan Rice
Age: 27
Contract expires: 2028
This surely must be the top priority for Arteta & Co. Nine first-team players have contracts expiring as early as 2028, but none are as central to Arsenal, both now and in the years ahead, as Declan Rice.
The dynamic England international is the quintessential Arteta player. Physical, fiercely driven and adaptable to the manager's philosophy. Few $100 million signings in the history of the game have had their price tag so rarely brought up. When it is, it's typically followed by the word "bargain."
"The good thing with Declan is he's so consistent, so reliable," Arteta has enthused. "He's always there." Arsenal will be eager to ensure that Rice remains a fixture under Arteta by handing him a new contract.