Wenger Eyes Top Class Midfielder With Arteta’s Future In Doubt After Contract Snub

The January transfer window may have slammed shut but clubs will still be working hard behind the scenes at identifying targets for the summer, so we’ll bring you all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news on Mikel Arteta’s future at Arsenal.

Arsenal are not going to offer Mikel Arteta a new contract as Arsene Wenger is looking to bring in a top class central midfielder this summer to replace the ageing Spaniard, according to Goal.

The club have been busy in recent months tying down a number of first team players to new contracts, with the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Per Mertesacker, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla among those who’ve recently been handed extensions.

Arteta has been a notable name to be left off this list and with his deal set to enter it’s final year this June, his future at the Emirates has now been thrown into serious doubt with Goal claiming the club have no plans to offer him a new deal.

The Spanish midfielder recently turned 32 and has come under heavy criticism following some below par performances in recent weeks, particularly against top quality opposition, where his lack of pace has been badly exposed in the middle of the park.

It looks like this could be his final season as a first team regular with the report claiming that Arsene Wenger plans to use some of his £100m transer kitty to bring in a world class central midfielder this summer.

Like many fans, I have been calling for the club to sign an athletic, ball-winning midfielder and it finally looks like we might get one at the end of the season. Reports earlier this week claimed Arsene was going to make another attempt to sign Lars Bender from Bayer Leverkusen and he’d be an ideal signing if we could pull it off.

Arteta has proved to be an excellent purchase since we bought him from Everton in 2011, but his legs are gone and he just can’t dominate the midfield like we need him to against the big teams.

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Hopefully he’ll be happy to see out the final year of his contract with Arsenal before leaving on a free as he’s a good character to have around and we need his experience within the squad.

Do you think Arteta’s time is up? Who would you like to see replace him? Share your views below…