Embattled Premier League outfit Arsenal have allowed the contracts of three of its stars enter its final 18 months.
The trio include Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere. Manager Arsene Wenger is keen on renewing the deals for the players despite two out of the three not contributing much to the set-up at the Emirates Stadium.
Wilshere is on loan at Bournemouth until the end of the season – a side where he has spent the entire season. The English player has better managed his fitness concerns and there are calls for him to remain with the Cherries instead of returning to Arsenal.
Gibbs rarely gets called to action as he is behind Nacho Monreal in the pecking order for a left back spot.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a talented player but with fitness concerns. He has struggled with keeping a regular shirt.
Wenger has confirmed that all three players would get new deals. The long-time coach wants the British core players to remain.
“We still have a group of young players but we have to keep them all. We have Ramsey, Chamberlain, Wilshere, Gibbs. All these players we have to make decisions and manage to keep them together,” Wenger said.
Aaron Ramsey still has time on his deal while the rest might lapse in 2019. However, the club would likely tie the Welshman down to avoid a repeat of what would happen this summer.
Alexis Sanchez and MesutOzil are yet to agree new terms with the club and there are widespread reports that they might exit the team. Sanchez wants the team to be more ambitious, as other stars that eventually left the club.
The North London side might finish out of the top four this season, with few games left to play. It would make it more difficult to retain the top talents. These are trying times for Wenger.