Mikel Arteta hatches new Arsenal plan as telling contract talks update emerges

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal face a midweek Premier League trip to Wolves after a convincing FA Cup victory against Wigan Athletic on Sunday

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side could go seven points clear atop the Premier League should they beat Wolves on Wednesday. This clash comes just a few days after they downed Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.

The last time the Gunners were in top-flight action, they failed to put Brentford to the sword and drew 1-1. But that was well and truly put behind them when they eased into the FA Cup fifth round with a 4-0 victory at home to Wigan.

Gabriel Jesus was on target in that tie and he’ll almost certainly play a role when Arsenal visit Molineux. But a new update suggests he may not be with the north London side for much longer.

Mirror Football takes a look at the latest from the Emirates, including Arteta’s newly hatched plan involving one of his other star forwards.

MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Gabriel Jesus contract update

Since returning from injury, Jesus has proven to be a valuable asset to Arteta. He grabbed two goals during a vital Champions League win against Inter Milan last month and was also on target in a 4-0 win against Leeds United.

READ MORE: Arsenal injury latest and return dates – Ben White blow, Riccardo Calafiori updateREAD MORE: Marseille chief resigns as chaos reigns over Ethan Nwaneri loan after manager’s decision

However, the 28-year-old’s contract expires in 2027 and he has yet to pen a new deal. He has insisted he is happy with the Gunners, but a new update paints a different picture.

football.london reports that as things stand, negotiations haven’t even begun with Jesus over a new contract. In fact, they claim there’s no sign talks will ever get underway, perhaps hinting that he could soon exit the club.

That’s part of Andrea Berta’s more ruthless outlook on squad decisions. Jesus’ public pleas to extend his stay could fall on deaf ears as a result of his poor injury record.

Mikel Arteta’s plan for Bukayo Saka

During the win over Wigan, a pre-match injury to Riccardo Calafiori forced Arteta to change his team. Myles Lewis-Skelly was meant to feature in midfield but ended up slotting into the left-back spot.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

But in a bizarre move, Bukayo Saka was the one who took up Lewis-Skelly’s midfield position. Arsenal scored four times in 16 minutes in the first half, with Saka’s cross turned in for an own goal by Jack Hunt.

Speaking after the game, Arteta admitted he plans to use Saka in midfield in the future. The Englishman combined well with Noni Madueke, who took up duties on the right wing.

Arteta said: “That’s something that’s a possibility and I wanted to try it, and we might use it in the future. There are still so many games, competitions and different scenarios to play in this season, and that’s a possibility that we have.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£49

£35

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.