Mikel Arteta signs one-year contract extension with Arsenal says agent Iñaki Ibañez

Mikel Arteta has signed a one-year contract extension with Arsenal, according to the midfielder's agent.

Arteta, 32, has suffered from a string of injuries this season which have cast doubt over his long-term future at the Emirates.

Currently sidelined until March after undergoing ankle surgery at the start of the year, the Spanish midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season, but his agent Iñaki Ibañez has told footmercato.net his client has committed to a further year at the Gunners.

"Mikel is no longer free in June, because he has signed a one additional year contract," he told the website.

Gunners captain Arteta has struggled with injury problems throughout the 2014/15 campaign and has not played for the club since he was forced off in their final Champions League group game against Borussia Dortmund on 22 November.

The club confirmed Arteta underwent surgery on his left ankle to remove a bone spur, which has been the source of the Spaniard's discomfort this season, and expect his rehabilitation to last until at least April.

The signing of Polish teenager Krystian Bielik and the emergence of Francis Coquelin following his loan away from the club has somewhat softened the blow created by Arteta's absence.

While the club are currently in the process of tying Coquelin down to a new long-term contract, they continue to be linked with holding midfielders, a position the club have continually struggled with in recent years.

In recent days, reports in Spain have suggested Arsenal have shown an interest in signing Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi in the summer as Arteta's long-term replacement.

Marca suggest that while no formal talks have taken place, the former Real Sociedad starlet would have little hesitation in making the move to the Premier League.