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Arsenal News: Midfielder Agrees Deal, Sanchez Ruled Out + More

By on July 7, 2015

Mikel Arteta

Some interesting news to bring you today as John Cross at the Mirror is reporting that Mikel Arteta has finally signed a new one-year deal with Arsenal.

The skipper’s contract expired at the end of June and there has been speculation suggesting the midfielder would either head back to Spain to see out the rest of his career or move into a coaching role.

Arteta began doing his coaching badges earlier this year while he was on the sidelines, with the 33-year-old suffering from a chronic calf injury that’s likely to mean he’ll be restricted on the number of games he can play this coming season.

For that reason, I didn’t expect him to stay at Arsenal in a playing capacity but the Mirror claim he has now signed a one-year extension and is expected to be on the club’s pre-season trip to Singapore.

In one sense it’s great Mikel is staying as he’s influential to have around the dressing room but worryingly the Mirror suggest that this may mean Arsene Wenger may no longer bring in another holding midfielder.

The boss was fully expected to strengthen in the middle of the park this summer but with Schneiderlin set for Man Utd, the Vidal rumours dying down and Gundogan signing a new deal at Dortmund, options are running out.

And now that Arteta has committed himself to the club, it seems that Arsene may just decide to go with what he’s got and have the Spaniard act as back-up to Coquelin next year.

That would be a huge mistake in my eyes as we need another top class holding player to compete with Le Coq, but as it stands it looks like the boss may just save his pennies.

There was some other news from the Mirror as they claim that Alexis Sanchez is almost certain to miss the start of the new season after leading Chile to Copa America glory.

The attacker has been given at least 3 weeks full rest so he wont even start pre-season training until late July at the earliest. Therefore, we’re unlikely to see him playing until well into August.

However, one man that we should be seeing line-up for Arsenal on the opening day of the season is Santi Cazorla as John Cross says there is no chance we’ll entertain any offers for the diminutive playmaker amid reported interest from Atletico Madrid.

The arrival of Petr Cech was expected to see David Ospina head for the exit door but the Colombian has hinted he may be ready to stay and fight for his place after telling reporters:

“I have always had to fight for the title position at all of my clubs. You expect a big club like Arsenal to improve the squad but you must always impress the manager in training.” Ospina is quoted as saying by the Mirror

I’d be hugely surprised if both he and Szczesny stay so it will be interesting to see who leaves this summer. My money’s still on Ospina…..

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