Arsenal pair Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin have reportedly agreed to new contracts with the club, with Laurent Koscielny also close to an extension.
According to RMC Sport, Giroud has agreed a new deal which will keep him at Arsenal until 2019, while Coquelin has extended until 2021 as Arsene Wenger has wrapped up two deals with many more likely to follow.
Further, it’s added in the report that Koscielny is in advanced negotiations with the club, and he will shortly agree on new terms that will see him commit himself to the Gunners until 2020.
While it probably isn’t the news that many Arsenal were hoping for with both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil waiting on new contracts as their current deals expire in 2018, it’s certainly a step in the right direction and a start for the Gunners to begin keeping key pieces in place.
It will also likely strengthen Wenger’s argument when convincing his star duo to commit themselves to the club, and it sets a strong precedent and makes a statement of intent that the club intend on acting swiftly and getting things wrapped up with a big season ahead of them.
Arsenal currently sit three points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea and will prepare to face Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League next year.
With so much to play for, Wenger will want to sort out as much business off the field as possible and as quickly as possible to avoid any of it from becoming a distraction.
As for the trio in question, Koscielny has established himself as a leading defender in the Premier League for several years now while Coquelin has worked incredibly hard to nail down a spot in the starting line-up.
Meanwhile, Giroud has found himself on the fringes in recent weeks given the form of Sanchez, but he is a valuable option for Wenger as he offers something different and it will be a boost to have him onside moving forward.