Arsenal shock exits, £130m triple swoop and silverware boldly predicted as Arteta closes on new deal

The disappointment of missing out on the Premier League title looks set to be washed away by Arsenal, with reports indicating they’re set to hand a new long-term deal to manager Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners boss has overseen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes since his appointment in December 2019, winning the FA Cup by the end of the same season and establishing his side as genuine Premier League title contenders. The additions of the likes of Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard have played a pivotal role in recent years and Arteta will be keen to build on the foundations he has put in place over the coming seasons.

But how could the next three years play out for Arteta and Arsenal if he does put pen-to-paper on a new deal? We here at 3AddedMinutes couldn’t wait to find out so we fired up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular managerial simulation believes the Gunners will fare as they chase success at home and in European competition:

A long-term target finally secured

With the ink only just dry on his new contract, Arteta ventured into the transfer market and concluded a deal for Fiorentina winger Nicolas Gonzalez as the Argentina international moved to the Emirates Stadium in a £42m move. However, it was another new addition that caught the eye as Arteta finally brought a successful end to his long-term pursuit of Aston Villa and Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz.

The former Manchester City man joined the Gunners in a deal worth £56m but would have an unsuccessful first season with the club as they ended the campaign in fourth place in the Premier League and exited the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League at the semi-final stage.

Key man departs for Spain

The summer of 2025 would bring something unexpected for the Gunners supporters in this virtual world. Perhaps he was hit back the backwards steps taken during the previous season or maybe he felt the pull of a return to his former club - but either way, Martin Odegaard went back to Real Madrid in a deal that netted the Gunners an initial fee of £102m, with a further £20m to follow in add-ons. It was a significant blow for Arteta as he lost the services of one of his driving forces in midfielder - but the money would be put to good use and would pay almost instant dividends.

Two Portuguese wonderkids join

With the money from the Odegaard deal burning a hole in his pocket and swelling his transfer kitty to eye-watering levels, Arteta produced a triple swoop that would transfer his side from Premier League contenders to one of the powerhouses of European football. There was a double swoop on the Portuguese league as the Gunners landed highly-rated Benfica duo Antonio Silva and Joao Neves for a combined fee of £95m before returning to the Primeira Liga to secure the services of Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio in a £47m move.

Shock Champions League Final win

With his new look side ready to roar, Arteta’s side burst into life as they narrowly missed out on the Premier League title during the 2025/26. Manchester City took the honours by just one point after the Gunners fell to a 1-0 defeat at Everton on the final day of the season to allow Pep Guardiola’s side to overtake them with a 4-0 home win over Fulham. The FA Cup and Carabao Cup brought early exits as Arteta rotated his squad - but his decision paid spectacular dividends as his side made their way through an extraordinary Champions League campaign.

After easing through the new look league phase of the competition with 20 points from eight fixtures against the likes of Real Sociedad, Inter, Rangers and Bayern Munich, Arsenal then battled past Feyenoord and Liverpool in the first two knockout rounds. A penalty shoot-out win in the semi-final meeting with Real Madrid sent the Gunners into only their second ever Champions League final and they lifted the trophy with a 3-2 win against Paris Saint-Germain thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Joao Neves and Gabriel Jesus.

An historic domestic treble

What can you do when you’ve made one piece of history? Go out and make more - and Arteta’s men did it in some style as they dominated English football during the 2026/27 season. Although their Champions League defence ended with a quarter-final defeat against Real Madrid, there was more than enough success at home for the Gunners faithful to celebrate. A goal from Ben White was enough to land a first piece of silverware of the season as Arsenal edged out Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final before securing the Premier League title for the first time since 2004 by embarking on a run of just one defeat in their final 18 games to see off the challenges of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

That set the scene for an FA Cup Final meeting with Everton as a historic treble lay in wait. The Gunners had already seen off Stoke City, Wolves, Chelsea, Ipswich Town and Bournemouth to secure their Wembley date and goals from Jesus and Saka were enough to see off the Toffees and round off a stunning season.