Wise move from Wenger as Arsenal prepare contract for key man

Their side are currently on a great run of form in the league, having won their last five matches. And it looks as though even happier times are ahead for Arsenal fans as Hector Bellerin is set to sign a new contract with the club, which will likely be a significant improvement on his current deal.

Such an action only further emphasises just how important a role the Spanish right-back plays at the Emirates, and it’s a position Wenger clearly sees the 21-year-old filling for years to come.

But some of Europe’s elite sides have come sniffing in recent weeks, with interest growing in Bellerin.

One club in particular that has been keeping tabs on developments in north London is Barcelona, a place where Bellerin spent his early years before the Gunners saw his potential and snapped him up when he was just 16 years old.

And the man who oversaw that departure from the Camp Nou, Pep Guardiola, is also reportedly keen on reuniting with the defender at Manchester City.

While he has both Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna available to him as things stand at City, neither are likely to feature in Guardiola’s long-term plans.

And given that Bellerin was brought up playing the style that Pep wants his current crop of players to adopt, he’d almost certainly slot straight into City’s back four.

That means there are two possibilities should Bellerin agree to a contract extension. It would either fend off interested clubs altogether or it would force those clubs into spending more than they would have initially expected to pay for the right-back. A stroke of genius from the Arsenal board.

What do you think? Is Bellerin in it for the long haul at the Emirates, or will he pack his bags next summer? Have your say in the comments section below.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing