New Arsenal contract talks for Nacho Monreal as Unai Emery makes an impression

Extension: Nacho Monreal
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James Olley12 September 2018

Nacho Monreal insists he is happy at Arsenal and claims talks are progressing well over a contract extension despite entering the final year of his existing deal without an agreement.

Real Sociedad are among a number of clubs monitoring the defender’s situation and he will be free to negotiate directly with overseas teams from January 1 if the Gunners fail to agree terms.

However, Monreal, who moved to Emirates Stadium in 2013 from Malaga and has since made 165 Premier League appearances, is settled in north London and hopeful of extending his playing career for several years to come.

The Spaniard, who turns 33 in February, said: “At the moment we are talking with the club. I’ve always said I am really happy, I feel very happy playing for Arsenal. I came six years ago. I have a good relationship with them.

"We are in contact in any moment so don’t worry about that. I am happy here. That is the most important thing.”

Asked if he could emulate Ryan Giggs and play on until he was 40 years old, Monreal added: “That is my idea, that is what I want! We will see what happens but at the moment I am 32 and I will turn 33 but I feel good.

“My idea is to play in football until my body says ‘Nacho, so sorry but that’s the end’. But I think it is far [away]. I hope so. You never know because your body, sometimes you start with some problems, some injuries and you can’t continue giving 100 per cent.

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

"But at the moment I feel good so I am not thinking of my retirement.”

Monreal’s hunger to continue is in part down to the reinvigorating effect many players have described under new head coach Unai Emery.

The former Paris Saint-Germain boss replaced Arsene Wenger in the summer and is seeking his third consecutive victory when Arsenal travel to Newcastle on Saturday.

Emery has introduced more rigorous training sessions and a pitchside gym to keep players working continuously in an effort to improve overall fitness and sharpness.

“In training, he likes that every single player gives his 100 per cent in any moment,” said Monreal. “Training is one hour and a half, [maybe] one hour 40, whatever, [and] all the time we must give our best performance. If we have to run, we have to do it, don’t save any energy.

"After that, he loves that we enjoy and have a good atmosphere in the group. While we are training, it is ‘come on guys, do everything’ and after you will have time to relax and enjoy with your team-mates. It is good for the team.

“That [the pitchside gym] is what they did on the first day. I wasn’t here but I saw it. At the moment, we haven’t used it too much so that’s a good point for us!

“But both managers like to have the ball, have long possessions and protect the ball during the games. Probably with Unai Emery, we work more tactically. He is a Spanish coach and in Spain we work a lot on tactics, set-pieces – I think we are improving in this aspect.

“This is our idea for this year – have more possession, don’t lose stupid balls in the middle of the pitch and be more compact than how we were before.”

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