Arteta has spearheaded an impressive turnaround for the North London club, who have been neck-and-neck with Manchester City in the Premier League title race in each of the last two seasons.

And while the Gunners have fallen short in both years, retired Arsenal star Smith has seen enough from Arteta to know that he wants the club to offer the Spaniard a new deal at the earliest convenience.

"It’s very important for Arsenal and Arteta to agree fresh terms," Smith told Gambling Zone. "You want that continuity now because things are obviously on the uphill curve.

"He's doing brilliantly and he’s still learning as a manager. It's easy to forget that he's relatively young as a boss of a big club like Arsenal.

"He's cleared out those he didn't want, he's brought those in that he does, and now he wants to build. He certainly wants to make it a bigger, stronger squad which we will need for that title challenge and the Champions League next season."

Live on DAZN: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez on June 29.  Click here for details.