Report: Mikel Arteta stopped £20m player from leaving Arsenal in the summer, now plans to offer new contract

Mikel Arteta recently signed a new contract at Arsenal – and there are now plans to offer fresh terms to a player at the Emirates Stadium.

Four players will find themselves no longer attached to Arsenal at the end of the season, with Jorginho and Thomas Partey set to see their contracts expire, while Raheem Sterling and Neto’s loans will also end.

However, Arsenal are initially planning to extend the contract of a player who sees his deal expire in July 2026 – after Mikel Arteta blocked him from leaving during the summer transfer window…

Arsenal planning to offer new Leandro Trossard contract

A story from Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium now states that Arsenal intend to offer Leandro Trossard a new contract.

The Belgium international has less than 18 months remaining on his current deal, but the Gunners are keen to reward him for his consistently effective performances by putting fresh terms on the table.

After the transfer window had closed in England, Saudi Arabian giants Al-Ittihad attempted to sign Trossard, initially proposing a loan deal ahead of an obligatory purchase next summer.

However, Het Nieuwsblad add that Arteta blocked the Belgian – who cost an initial £20m in a move from Brighton back in January 2023 – from leaving, despite the fact the Arsenal No.19 did have his head turned by the immense wealth on offer.

Trossard is currently coming in for some criticism after foolishly kicking the ball away during Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City, receiving a second yellow card in the process.

However, the 29-year-old’s impact for Arsenal, usually off the bench, has been immense in recent times, impressively scoring 17 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions last season.

Belgium international may seek assurances over starts before committing his future

Simon Jordan recently opined that Trossard may be questioning his future at Arsenal after Arteta signed Sterling – a forward who operates in the same areas – despite the fact the Belgian was already struggling to make the starting XI.

The 56-year-old told talkSPORT: “This deal for Sterling to go to Arsenal, I sort of scratched my head at it.

“There are players inside that dressing room like Trossard that will look at it and go, I mean, ‘hang on a second, I can’t get in the team and you are bringing another player in’. He is not going to take Saka’s place, is he?”

Jordan makes a good point, so it is entirely possible that Trossard rejects the offer of a new contract in order to become a regular starter elsewhere.

The man from Maasmechelen only made 18 Premier League starts from a possible 38 last season, despite his consistency from the bench, so if he does decide to leave to become more important at another club, nobody can blame him.