Mertesacker and Rosicky sign new contracts; Ramsey to follow

Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky have signed new contracts with Arsenal.

The experienced internationals have committed their futures to the Club after once again impressing with their performances this season.

Mertesacker, 29, has established himself as one of the Club’s most consistent performers since joining from Werder Bremen in August 2011. Now in his third season with Arsenal, the Germany international has made 110 appearances and has become one of the squad’s most senior players, captaining the team in the absence of Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta.

Rosicky, 33, now in his eighth season with Arsenal, continues to be an influential force in the Gunners’ midfield. Currently on 209 appearances for the Club, the Czech Republic captain brings experience, industry and technical prowess to the team, as well as a habit of scoring important goals.

“We are delighted that Mertesacker and Rosicky have committed their futures to the Club," said Arsène Wenger. "They are players of exceptional quality and experience, and have consistently proven themselves at the highest level. There is a great feeling of togetherness and belief in the group and this news will only help to strengthen this further.”

Mertesacker said: “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.”

He added: “On my first visit to England as a boy I bought an Arsenal jersey as a souvenir and I 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 said: “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.”

He added: “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.”

Aaron Ramsey will give Arsenal a major boost this week by signing a vastly improved five-year contract with the club. The Wales international has agreed a deal worth in excess of £100,000 a week, more than doubling his current salary and making him the second-highest paid player at Arsenal, behind only Mesut Özil.

Ramsey had more than two years remaining on the deal he signed in December 2012 but it is a measure of how highly Arsène Wenger regards the 23-year-old midfielder that the Arsenal manager was keen to extend the player's contract at the earliest opportunity as well as approve a significant wage increase.

It is understood that negotiations have been taking place between Ramsey's agent, David Baldwin, and Arsenal for the last month, and the club are set to announce confirmation of the new contract in the next 48 hours.

In another piece of good news for Arsenal supporters, Ramsey has returned to full training this week, after being sidelined for more than two months with a thigh injury. There is no possibility of Ramsey featuring in the FA Cup quarter-final at home against Everton on Saturday but there is an outside chance that he will be in the squad that travels to Bayern Munich next Tuesday, when Arsenal will need to overturn a 2-0 first leg defeat to reach the last eight of the Champions League.

Ramsey's new contract is the fourth that he has signed at Arsenal since joining from Cardiff City for £5m six years ago, at the age of 17, and reflects his growing status not only at the club but in world football. His sensational form earlier this season, when he scored a remarkable 15 goals for club and country by the end of November, brought widespread acclaim and led to interest from leading clubs on the continent, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as Manchester City.

Arsenal, however, have no intention of losing a player whose best years are ahead of him and who is regarded as central to the club's future success. Wenger hugely admires Ramsey's attributes and has invested great time in developing the player he convinced to join Arsenal ahead of Manchester United as a teenager.

Even when Ramsey fractured his fibula and tibia in a challenge with Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross at the Britannia Stadium four years ago, and took an extended period to recover psychologically as well as physically from the trauma of that career-threatening injury, Wenger's faith in the player never wavered. This season has been vindication for the Frenchman.

After finishing the previous campaign strongly, Ramsey's outstanding performances in the centre of midfield helped to propel Arsenal to the top of the Premier League and made him a leading contender for the Professional Footballers' Association's Player of the Year award until his season was disrupted by injury.

Ramsey picked up a thigh strain in the 3-1 victory at West Ham United on Boxing Day and aggravated the problem in training at the end of the following month. He has not played since but now hopes to return in time to play a major part in the run-in.

DuringTheWar wrote:Seeing as Ramsey had over 2 years left on his contract, I think we should wait another year before bumping him up to 100k +.

He's had about 7 months of good form (3 good months last season, 4 outstanding months this season) How is that long enough to suddenly become a top earner.

Just imagine if he reverts to his pre 2013 self and he's on 100k a week

Sorry the sensible thing to do is wait 1 more season and see how he does. First off see how he comes back from this injury for starters

Twoism wrote:

DuringTheWar wrote:Seeing as Ramsey had over 2 years left on his contract, I think we should wait another year before bumping him up to 100k +.

He's had about 7 months of good form (3 good months last season, 4 outstanding months this season) How is that long enough to suddenly become a top earner.

Just imagine if he reverts to his pre 2013 self and he's on 100k a week

Sorry the sensible thing to do is wait 1 more season and see how he does. First off see how he comes back from this injury for starters

The sensible thing to do is to tie him down, he's young, Arsenal future and hot property come next year. Wait another year and we get another Sagna situation when we're hopelessly out of control, so yeah I'm sick of losing players left and right.

djoe26 wrote:Really glad for both Rosicky and Per. I think its kinda soon for Ramsey but whatever he has been our best player this season and he deserves it.

Raptor how can you be so sure that he is getting his salary? i mean he has been injured for so long and there could be mutual agreement between club and player.