Arsenal have turned their attentions to tying down three senior players to new contracts at the club following the close of the transfer window. The Daily Mail and Mirror report Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky will be offered new deals this month.
Sagna (30) and Rosicky (32) contracts expire at the end of this season and the pair are still delivering top class performances for the Gunners. It is though Rosicky will be offered a one-year extension whilst Sagna could be offered the two years that he desires. Between them they have well over 300 appearances for the club and are two of the most senior players in the squad – a change in policy.
Per Mertesacker has become a mainstay in the Arsenal team and even with 2 years left on his current deal it seems Arsenal may be lining up an extra years extension. Per is the type of player to continue well into his 30’s and Arsene will see the 6ft 6 defender as a key compenent in Arsenal’s growing German elite which now includes him, Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil and youth players Gedion Zelalem, Thomas Eisfeld and Serge Gnabry. He also comes with a wealth of experience, 91 caps for Germany.
It’s a good change of heart from an Arsene Wenger who wouldn’t offer players over 30 extensions. The experienced lost because of this strategy was immeseasurable. The likes of Gilberto Silva were deemed surplus to requirements – a big mistake. Hopefully the club can now tie down these three, solid professionals and players full of experience.
Lukas Fabianski, Emmanuel Frimpong and Niklas Bendtner’s contract also expire at the end of the year and are unlikely to be offered extended deals. Woijech Szczesny, whose contract expires at the end of next season may have to earn a new deal through good performances after a stuttering start to the season.
Photo via Ronnie MacDonald