The contract situations for many a Arsenal player remain unresolved over the course of the season. With the league now over, it may be the ideal time to hand out the new contracts. Negotiations are likely to prove tricky for all parties involved here as Arsenal have not only missed out on a top four this season but have to also deal with the departure of their legendary coach Arsene Wenger.
The Frenchman announced his retirement earlier this season and his departure might plant doubts in the minds of many players as to whether they should continue with Arsenal or leave for another top club.
Wenger had previously claimed that the situation with one of their stars, Aaron Ramsey remains a process. When asked about a new deal for Ramsey, whose current deal runs to the end of next season, Wenger said: “We are communicating. Yes, I’m confident, he’s not at the end of his contract, he has one and a half years to go. From my side it is clear, but you always have to find an agreement. We want him to stay. He’s one of these guys who has been here for a long time. He will be an important player in the future of this club.”
Wenger however, also stressed on the fact that the Gunners should not have to force a player to sign. “I don’t want to convince a player (they should sign),” Wenger added. “I want the player to be happy to play for the club. Having players who want to play for the club is the way we want to play football and is in the values we feel are important to us. With the right amount of money we want to pay, all these things have to come together.”
These ideologies, while exemplary, are not pragmatic. This is the exact problem that has seen the club fail to hold on to stars like Robin Van Persie, Alexis Sanchez and many more in the past. The Gunners are now entering a new era and it will be crucial for the club to have experienced players in the squad who know the club well.
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Aaron Ramsey is definitely one of them. Having been groomed by Wenger, the Welsh star has always shown that he is an Arsenal player through and through but unless the club acts fast to respond to his commitment with a practical offer, his loyalty might be eclipsed by his professional ambition.
