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Arsenal Boss Offers Update On Trio’s Contract Situation

By on April 2, 2015

Mikel Arteta

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has given an update on the contract situation surrounding midfield trio Abou Diaby, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky.

Diaby has once again endured a miserable season that’s been plagued by injury problems and it’s been widely expected that he’ll leave the club when his deal runs out in June.

However, Arsene has sensationally hinted that Diaby could actually sign a new deal at Arsenal after hinting that the midfielder has been offered a pay-as-you-play contract.

Wenger confirmed that he’s already held talks with the 29-year-old and is waiting for him to make a decision over his future.

Arteta and Rosicky are also out of contract at the end of the season and there has been reports that the duo have already agreed terms over one-year extensions.

While Arsene refused to comment on that speculation, he did confirm that he’s confident their situations will be resolved soon.

The boss told Arsenal.com:

on Diaby’s future…

By me, yes [a decision has been taken]. I had a chat with him and told him how I can envisage the future. He has to make a decision. Of course he understands completely that he has to perform and to show that he can be present on a consistent way. I will see where we go from there. I wouldn’t like to go into details, we have to meet again to see where we go from what I told him. It has to be linked a little bit with his presence.

on Arteta and Rosicky’s futures…

Yes [I am confident Arteta’s future will be resolved]. Same as for Rosicky as well, I am confident [something will be resolved].

I’d like to see Arteta and Rosicky sign one-year deals as we need to make sure we have plenty of experience in the squad to help the younger guys out, but the situation with Diaby is more complex.

He’ll always go down as one of those players who wasn’t able to fulfill his potential due to injuries but I’m not convinced a pay-as-you-play deal at Arsenal is the best idea for him.

Let’s face it, history tells us he’ll get injured so will therefore not be able to earn. I’d love to see him stay injury-free and push for a place in Wenger’s side but it’s going to be extremely difficult – particularly with the competition he faces in the middle of the park.

So if he can somehow get another team to offer him a regular contract that isn’t linked with playing time, or even gets a pay-as-you-play deal at another lesser club where he’s more likely to play, then I think he should go elsewhere.

However, depending on how he does over the next few weeks, he may retire if he picks up another injury. It would be a sad end to what was once a hugely promising career, but one that was ultimately ended by a shocking tackle from Dan Smith.