Arsenal are set to offer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a new contract with a considerable increase in salary as the Gunners also try to secure the future of Theo Walcott.
Oxlade-Chamberlain had a fantastic first season for Arsenal, after making his move from Southampton last summer. The winger, who can also play in the center of midfield, where Arsene Wenger sees his future, is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the English Premier League and is slowly becoming a regular in the England national team set-up.
Arsene Wenger is a big fan of the 18-year-old's talents and is set to reward him with a new contract, with talks set to take place later this month, according to The Sun, despite still having four years to run on his current deal.
Wenger has repeatedly stressed on building an English core at Arsenal and Oxlade-Chamberlain is seen as one of the most important pieces of that plan. The Frenchman is also hopeful the new contract will have a knock-on effect on another important English player at the Emirates -Theo Walcott. The 23-year-old is yet to agree a deal with the Gunners and with less than a year remaining on his contract, the forward will be free to talk to any club in January, if a deal is not agreed by then.
It is understood both parties want a deal to be done, and a new contract is expected to be signed sooner rather than later.
There are also new contracts being lined up for full-back Kieran Gibbs, another young English player, and France international Bacary Sagna, one of Arsenal's most consistent performers.
Meanwhile, Abou Diaby, who has made a smashing comeback from a long-term injury this year, thanked Wenger for keeping faith in him throughout an injury-plagued career at the Emirates. "I have to thank the manager because I have had tremendous support from him," Diaby said. "As a player it is really important to have that support and from your teammates as well. I have to say that during this period, they helped a lot.
"The manager is known for being close to his players and he is always checking to look how they are. I had great support from him. I want to be back enjoying myself because I love football and I want to pay back the club, manager and teammates as well."
Diaby only played around 90 minutes the entire last season as injury after injury curtailed his chances of playing. The French midfielder, however, has looked brilliant in the first three games of the season, looking more and more like the player that everyone knows he can be, and picking up the man of the match award for his performance against Liverpool on Sunday.
"Mentally it was a hard time but I love football," Diaby said of his time spent on the sidelines. "Football is my passion so it doesn't matter what happened, I need to look forward and that is what I have done in this situation.
"I am really happy to play again. When you play in these type of games (against Liverpool), it is really exciting and you need to be ready. I am really happy and I hope I can keep going in that way.
"The main thing is that I need to get my confidence back so I need to go in for challenges. We did that really well on Sunday."
