Arsenal have reportedly handed Spanish full-back Nacho Monreal a new one-year contract, with an option of extending it by another twelve months.

According to a report from The Sun, Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal has signed a new one-year contract extension with the club, that will keep him at the Emirates till the summer of 2020. The Gunners also have the option of extending it by a further twelve months.

Monreal, 33, has been with Arsenal since 2013, having joined from La Liga outfit Malaga. The left-back has racked up 248 appearances for the North London outfit, bagging 10 goals and setting up 20 more, winning three FA Cups in the process.

Primarily a left-back, Monreal has been used as a left-sided centre-back in a three-man backline of late by current manager Unai Emery and his predecessor Arsene Wenger in recent seasons. The 2018-19 campaign saw the Spanish international feature 36 times in all competitions, netting one goal and assisting seven more.

Monreal’s existing contract was due to expire this summer, leading to him being linked with a return to Spain, with La Liga champions Barcelona rumoured to be interested in his services. But, the 33-year-old was not named on the list of players released by Arsenal that included the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Danny Welbeck and young left-back Cohen Bramall.

Nacho Monreal has been a key part of Arsenal for a number of seasons (Photo courtesy: AFP/Getty)
Monreal has been a key part of Arsenal for a number of seasons (Photo courtesy: AFP/Getty Images)

And now, as per the report from The Sun, the North Londoners have handed the 33-year-old a new contract, that is set to keep him at the Emirates Stadium till the summer of 2020. Arsenal also retain the option of extending the 22-time capped Spanish international’s stay by a further twelve months.

The report further adds that that there has been no hike in Monreal’s wages, that the former Malaga man will continue to be on wages worth £65,000 per week.

While there has been no official confirmation of this development, the fact that Arsenal did not include Monreal’s name among the players released at the end of the season lends support to The Sun’s claims that the Spaniard has indeed penned a new contract with the Gunners.

Arsenal might be closing in on the signing of a new left-back in the form of Celtic’s Kieran Tierney, but Monreal’s reported contract extension should come as a boost for the North London outfit as he was one of the few solid defenders for Emery’s side last season and his experience would prove to be valuable as they look to break into the Premier League top four.

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