Nacho Monreal has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, committing his future to the club amid persistent interest from Athletic Bilbao.
With the deal being ‘long-term’ you can now expect the 29-year-old to end his career at the club. This is great news, with the Spaniard arguably Arsenal’s most consistent performer over the last 24 months.
Monreal will hope his form for Arsenal will see him rewarded internationally, as he looks to build on his 16 caps for Spain.
Monreal joined from Malaga in January 2013 for a fee of around £10million. It is thought he signed a four and a half year contract, which would mean he had only 18 months to run on his previous deal. Replacing Andre Santos in the squad, Monreal’s first six months in England failed to convince many fans. But he has gone from strength to strength since, and proved many doubters wrong – no Arsenal fan will be upset that he’s extended his stay with the club.
Upon signing the contract, Monreal said:
“I’m really happy because my intention was to keep playing for Arsenal,” he told Arsenal Player. “I feel really good playing here.
“I have a good relationship with my team-mates and we keep improving year after year. I wanted to stay here and I could extend my contract. I would like to play here for many more years.
“I’m very happy with my performances this season, at the beginning it was difficult because I was a new signing and I didn’t speak English.”
A long-term contract at 29 shows Wenger now sees experience as vital in attempting to win the Premier League title.
The new contract is perhaps more bad news for Kieran Gibbs, who is likely to now be considering his own future. Monreal’s new deal is probably 3 and a half or 4 and a half years long – and Gibbs, aged 26, will not want to play back up in the prime of his career.