Arsenal had no choice but to hand bumper deal to Arteta

Mikel Arteta has become the highest-paid manager in the Premier League as Arsenal reward him for his work in rebuilding the club and ending their long wait for the league title .

Arsenal had not won the Premier League since the 2003/04 campaign, when Arsène Wenger led them through an unbeaten season. Wenger remained in charge until 2018 but could not deliver another title, while Unai Emery also struggled to guide the Gunners into the top four.

The club appointed Arteta at the end of 2019 and gave him time to rebuild the squad and reshape the culture at the Emirates. That patience has helped Arsenal become one of the strongest coached teams in football, making the manager central to their plans.