Santi Cazorla is out of contract come the end of the season, so why have Arsenal failed to extend his deal?
The Spaniard has been one of our most influential players this season, being one of the first names on the teamsheet when fit, and I can think of no reason why he would be left to run his contract down this season.
Cazorla is being linked with a switch to Juventus at the end of the season when his current deal runs out, and would be allowed to discuss terms over a move outside the UK from January onwards, and I cant comprehend why we would not have tied him down to an extension already.
Per Mertesacker is another star who is out of contract come the summer, and with the defender having been installed as captain in August, despite having already been ruled out with injury until the new year, surely that would mean he is an important player for us?
The defender will have a tough job of breaking back into the Gunners’ first-team line-up thanks to the astonishing partnership formed by new signing Shkodran Mustafi and stand-in captain Laurent Koscielny, as well as having Gabriel Paulista and Rob Holding to vie with for places.
Mertesacker looks destined to have his contract run down, which makes his selection as the club’s skipper a strange occurrence to me.
Yaya Sanogo is the other remaining senior player to be in his final year of his contract, and I have no clue as to Arsene Wenger’s plans for the out of favour individual.
One possible obstacle in place of a Cazorla extension could be the fact that Arsene Wenger himself is in his last year of his contract also. The club may not be willing to allow the Frenchman to make decisions on the future of the squad whilst unwilling to commit the team to him beyond the coming summer, or the player himself may opt to delay his decision until he is aware of his role, which would no doubt change under new management.
Is Wenger’s contract a problem for contract negotiations with players? Does Mertesacker or Sanogo deserve a new deal?
Pat J