Arsenal to speak with Mikel Arteta about a raise

According to David Ornstein of the BBC, Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis will meet with the agents of Mikel Arteta to discuss a better contract for the Spanish midfielder. Arteta joined from Everton last summer on deadline day and took a pay cut in exchange for Champions League football, making £60,000 per week last year. Given his excellent year for the Gunners, he's asked the club to take a look at improving the terms of his employment.

Arteta was a key piece of Arsenal's good periods this year--indeed, the club only managed one win in the league without him on the pitch--and an improved deal would be a fitting reward for the industry and coordination that Arteta brought to a struggling and injured Arsenal midfield. Not only was he Arsenal's most consistent and involved passer, he also made solid contributions with interceptions and tackling and generally solid positional play in the double pivot. This, of course, is in addition to a couple of crucial goals, and his hair. We'll keep you posted when more news comes through on this front.