Arsenal Boost As Club Confirms Key Duo Have Signed New Contracts

Arsenal have confirmed this afternoon that Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky have signed contract extensions at the club.

After joining the club from Werder Bremen in August 2011, Mertesacker has become a key figure in Arsene Wenger’s starting eleven over the past 12 months. The giant German has forged an excellent partnership alongside Laurent Koscielny at the back and has now racked up 110 appearances in all competitions.

Although Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta are both the official club captain and vice-captain, Per’s considered by many as our ‘real’ captain and I fully expect him to be handed the armband on a permanent basis next season.

He certainly deserves his new deal as he’s been a real calming influence at the heart of our defence and with him now being 29, this could be the last big contract of his career.

Mertesacker was clearly delighted to have committed his future to the club, telling Arsenal.com:

“It was easy for me to commit myself to the Club. I have been here for two and a half great years and feel I have great support from everyone at the Club and the fans. I’m really looking forward to having more years coming up with this fantastic club. We have a great team here and we all want to do our best to win trophies.”

“On my first visit to England as a boy I brought an Arsenal jersey as a souvenir and was so proud wearing it when playing football with my friends. Many years later, I have become a real Gunner, being even more proud to wear the Arsenal jersey. I am truly thankful to the Club and all the supporters for the time I have had here so far. And today I am deeply proud to have extended my contract with Arsenal. I’m proud to be a Gunner.”

Rosicky has also established himself as a key player in the squad over the last 18 months. The Czech international has seen his Arsenal career hampered by a number of niggling injuries since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund, but he now looks to have finally over-come his injury problems and has now made over 200 appearances for the club.

The 33-year-old’s hard-working attitude is infectious, and his energy and pressing game has become important for us this season, especially in the bigger games. He told the clubs website:

“I’m very happy that I’m staying at the Club. I’m proud that I’m still here after a long time and that it still continues. I’m glad I’m here at Arsenal and we’re all trying our best to win trophies for the Club and our supporters.”

“Ever since I arrived at Arsenal, I have always felt that I’m at the right place where I want to be. I still feel this way now and I’m proud that after such a long time I’m still here and will continue. One big factor is that I want to win the league with Arsenal. It’s my big goal and I will do everything that I can to achieve it. Arsenal is a great club, we have a great spirit here and we are all working together to do the best we can.”

The deals for Mertesacker and Rosicky have been expected over the last few weeks, with some newspapers suggesting we were delaying making an official announcement as we wanted to secure the future of Bacary Sagna first and make a triple announcement.

However, it looks like we’re no closer to finding a breakthrough with the right-back and the longer this drags on the more it looks like he’ll be leaving when his deal expires this summer. But it’s great news and Per and Tomas, fully deserved guys!

Are you pleased Mertesacker and Rosicky have signed new deals? Are you concerned that Sagna hasn’t signed yet?