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Alan Smith asked if Arsenal will extend David Luiz’s contract
Alan Smith that he believes that David Luiz still has a couple of years left in him and that the Arsenal fans would like the defender to stay when asked if the Gunners will extend his contract.
Luiz’s future at the Emirates is, once again, uncertain. His current terms expire at the end of the campaign and he will have turned 34 by the time the season concludes.
that Mikel Arteta wanted to hand the centre-back a new deal. Meanwhile, shortly after that no decision on his future had been taken.
Smith did not exactly clear up whether he would hand Luiz a new contract. But he did hint that he has more to give and suggested that more of the supporters would like him to extend his stay.
“It’s a strange one, you never know in football. How things have turned around, I’m sure a lot of Arsenal fans would want to keep him,” .
“He is a leader. I think that’s what Arteta likes about him. That strong presence in the dressing room, somebody with a voice, so I’m sure it’s something Arteta and the club will think about.
“He’s still got a good couple of years left in him physically. And he seems to be enjoying his football. So that’s going to be an interesting one because when the extension was signed, a lot of moans and groans were coming from Arsenal fans. I don’t think it’ll be quite the case this time.”
TBR View: Arsenal not quite ready to move Luiz on, but they are getting there
Arsenal do have the numbers at centre-back to potentially cope without Luiz. But Arteta will be working with a number of youngsters or players who have not yet quite managed to hold down a regular spot in the backline if Luiz goes.
So holding onto the former Chelsea man for one more year may make a lot of sense. Ideally, Arsenal would be able to gradually phase him out of the side as they look to the long-term.
They are probably not quite ready to phase him out. But it is an encouraging sign about the direction they are moving in that there is a debate to be had about his future.