Years ago, the Gunners had a reputation for letting top players’ contracts run down, leaving the club in a vulnerable position as suitors circled.
This meant Arsenal either ended up selling to rivals for cheap, or offered big new contracts to players who then didn’t meet expectations.
However, this has now changed, with the Gunners tying top players down to long-term deals well before their original contracts’ scheduled expiries.
Now, Mikel Arteta has spoken about talks being in the pipeline regarding a “big player” who’s been “working so hard” lately.
Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal plans to discuss new contract with Thomas Partey
The player in question is Thomas Partey, whose contract situation is now a rarity at Arsenal – his deal expires at the end of the season.
Partey’s time at Arsenal has been fruitful for the most part, doing very well on the pitch but also having his fair share of injury struggles.
So far this season, he has been featuring prominently and doing well, starting all of Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League games so far.
Indeed, Partey has already played more league minutes this season (799) than he did in the entirely of last season (789).
The Ghana international has also been covering at right-back when not helping to fill the midfield void left by injured captain Martin Odegaard.
As a result, Arteta has revealed at his pre-match presser – as per football.london – that talks are in the pipeline between Arsenal and Partey over a new deal.
On the subject of how ever-present Partey has been, Arteta said: “We need it from Thomas to be at the level we want him to be. He’s working so hard to do what he is doing at the moment.
“I think he is playing really well, in different positions and with different demands and he is coping with it in a great way. He’s a big player for us.”
Then, on the subject of a potential new contract, Arteta said: “He’s in a really good place and we will have those discussions.”
Partey earning himself a new contract
For a while, Partey’s name featured prominently on the transfer rumour mill with regards to a potential departure from the Emirates.
However, he’s certainly doing a good job in trying to win Arteta over and, if he keeps up this level of form, Arsenal would be wise to keep hold of the midfielder.
Admittedly, at the age of 31, he’s now heading into the twilight of his career, but at the same time he’s delivering on the pitch, so a two-year contract would be a good shout.
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