Ask Arsenal supporters what they’d like for Christmas and most will probably cheekily quip that three points at home to West Ham United on Boxing Day would suffice.
But there’s an even better present Edu and Mikel Arteta may have in store for the Gunners’ faithful.
That’s because The Daily Mail have reported that Gabriel Martinelli is ‘very close’ to signing a new long-term contract at Arsenal.
As things stand, the 21-year-old is out of contract in North London in 18 months, and signing him to a new deal would represent the perfect Christmas present for the fanbase.
Signed for only £6 million in 2019 [Goal], the Brazil international has blossomed into quite a phenomenal young talent, one of the world’s finest.
But with only 18 months on his contract, Arsenal might’ve found themselves in a dogfight to keep Martinelli either next month or the summer of 2023.
And worse yet, the short time left on his existing deal would mean that the Emirates Stadium outfit may have had to accept a cut-price fee, just to avoid losing him for free.
However, Martinelli could be one of the most valuable young players in world football if, as expected, he puts pen to paper on a long-term contrac.
With Arsenal top of the Premier League, nobody will be expecting to lose him anytime soon.
It does, however, mean that should they sell him, the club will be massively compensated.
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