Mikel Arteta has penned a new contract with Arsenal that is set to run until 2030 and one of his key stars has revealed just how he feels at the Spaniard staying with the club for his long time

Declan Rice believes Arsenal are "very lucky" to have tied boss Mikel Arteta down to a new deal. The Spanish coach penned a new contract earlier this week that sees him commit his future to the club until 2030.

Having been at the club since 2019 after replacing Unai Emery, that would take Arteta into a decade of service as manager following his prior stint as a player. And it’s fair to say that he has had a transformative impact on the club, having dragged the Gunners from mid-table mediocrity to Premier League champions.

Arsenal also reached the Champions League final under Arteta's watch last term. One of the key pillars of his side has been midfielder Declan Rice.

And the former West Ham star has waxed lyrical about Arteta following the news that he has officially signed a new deal. Speaking to ESPN Brazil, the midfielder said: "It's just tactically, training, managing, the detail he goes into, the things he sees that you would never see.

"He's constantly watching you when you don't think you're being watched. He's watching, constantly asking questions to try and catch you out, to see if you're listening. He's always keeping you on your toes, making sure that you're ready."

He added: "Every time we go into games, tactically we know what we're doing. Defensively, with the ball, how we're going to beat the opposition. It's just the fine details, the way he breaks everything down, which makes him the best for me.

"It's amazing that he [Arteta] signed a new contract and we get to have him as our manager for the next four years. So, we'll be very lucky."

Arsenal are now in the unfamiliar position of defending their title, albeit Rice believes he and his teammates are relishing the opportunity.

He said: "It [winning the league] was an amazing achievement, but this year's a brand new season: New team, new opposition, new players. So it throws up a different challenge.

"So, yeah, OK, we are the champions, but we don't go on the pitch and think about last season. We're definitely playing with more confidence this season, you can feel that within the group, but it's about staying humble, and taking each game as it comes like we did last year and trying to win as many as possible."

Arsenal recommence their title defence on Saturday afternoon as they take on Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.