Arsenal have been handed a major boost as football.london understands that Gabriel Martinelli has agreed a new contract to extend his stay at the club. The Brazilian is set to pen a four-and-a-half-year deal that will see him stay at the Emirates Stadium until at least 2027, having reached a breakthrough in talks.
"I want to stay they just need to give me a pen," Martinelli told reporters when asked about his contract in early November, hinting at his decision that would come. "I am very happy at Arsenal. I said it many times, I love to be here. I love the city, I love everything about Arsenal so I want to stay."
The 21-year-old has broken into the first-team over the previous few seasons, but has started to take his game to a new level this campaign. In 19 Premier League appearances, the winger has scored seven goals and assisted twice, becoming a consistent threat on the left.
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Martinelli's previous contract ran until 2024, with the club holding an option of an extra two-years extension, but the new contract rewards his fine form so far. The forward isn't the only one that the Gunners are in talks over keeping at the club beyond their current deal, keen to retain their youthful core.
There's also discussions being held with defender William Saliba and winger Bukayo Saka over new contracts, showing their importance to the side so far. Hinting at contract talks, Mikel Arteta told reporters in December: "We have a few of those that we are willing to extend the contract. Willy [William Saliba] is one of them.
"I think he’s shown in the months that he’s been with us the quality and the personality he has to play at the level that we want. We are trying to do that because we know he can be a really important part of our plans."
There will be hopes that Saka and Saliba follow the route of Martinelli by agreeing a new contract, however it marks a major boost for the Gunners to conclude one of three key ongoing discussions.
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