KEY POINTS

  • David Luiz settles for shock one-year contract extension
  • Matteo Guendouzi likely to be let go soon
  • Arteta still looking for other players to improve Gunners

Arsenal FC has finally addressed the contract situation of David Luiz not long after it appeared both sides were at an impasse. The Brazilian was reportedly seeking a two-year deal in what was a surprise demand. The Gunners initially failed to activate the one-year extension clause but it appears that has now been resolved.

According to Sky Sports, Luiz has agreed to a one-year contract extension. His contract was set to expire on June 30 and the sudden two-year contract demand gave the Gunners some anxious moments. This development gave manager Mikel Arteta, who was disappointed at the club's performance against Aston Villa. Aside from Luiz, Arsenal also saw the loan status of Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares made permanent. There was also the case of Dani Ceballos. His loan was extended, meaning he will stay at Emirates Stadium until the end of the season.

"David is a really important player for us. He has played most of our matches this season and has been important for the team. His passing, his communication with the team on and off the pitch. He helps everyone," Arsenal technical director Edu said.

And while the said players have given the Gunners some breathing space, there could be one player heading out the door. It appears Arteta is pretty upset about Matteo Guendouzi and his recent antics. He caught footage of the 21-year-old acting up during training and was unhappy. Aside from that, Guendouzi was also seen clashing with Neal Maupay after Arsenal lost to Brighton last Saturday. It appears that the French football player's attitude is something Arteta is not pleased with, part of the culture he is trying to change over at Emirates Stadium.

David Luiz
The Brazilian national team hasn't lost a competitive match at home in nearly four decades. Reuters

The antics of Guendouzi is textbook. Other instances include him acting up when re-watching training footage while Arteta's back was turned. In all, the 21-year-old player was not focused, something Arteta wanted from all his players. The worse part of it is that his attitude has also rubbed his teammates in the wrong way, further raising the chances of him likely getting the boot.

Looking ahead, Arteta is trying to look for more players that can fit in with his vision. Though the recent signings were a good development, the 38-year-old is still on the prowl for other potential players. In a previous post, Tyrone Mings was mentioned as a prospect but budget issues may prevent anything from prospering. Like most clubs, Arsenal is trying to work with a limited budget - a factor brought in by the COVID-19 pandemic.