ARSENAL have handed flop David Luiz a one-year contract extension — just a week after his horror show against Manchester City. The blundering Brazilian defender apologised after being at fault for two goals, conceding a penalty and getting sent off in the 3-0 defeat. But the Gunners have offered him a lifeline, with Dani Ceballos […]
ARSENAL have handed flop David Luiz a one-year contract extension — just a week after his horror show against Manchester City.
The blundering Brazilian defender apologised after being at fault for two goals, conceding a penalty and getting sent off in the 3-0 defeat.
But the Gunners have offered him a lifeline, with Dani Ceballos and Cedric Soares also set to sign extensions until the end of the season.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted: “We have no choice. We have to do it because of all the injuries we’ve had.
“It’s very complicated with the timing of it and some of the legal issues that are involved.
“We’re trying to resolve this and I’m confident I can keep them all.”
Arsenal are set to announce the deals today.
Arteta told the club he needed to retain Luiz, 33, and Co to bolster his injury-ravaged squad — with teen winger Gabriel Martinelli, 19, ruled out for the rest of the season and keeper Bernd Leno for up to six weeks.
The club aim to seal the permanent signing of loan defender Mari — another casualty — and took it right to the brink of last night’s midnight deadline as they wrangled over costs.
Ceballos, Mari and Cedric all joined Arsenal on loan to the end of June, while Luiz’s 12-month extension was due to expire next week.
Yet Spanish centre-back Mari’s season is over after damaging ankle ligaments in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.
But Arsenal are pressing on with plans to sign him in a £10million deal from Brazilian side Flamengo.
Arteta said: “We’ve been trying to get the deal done as we’re happy with what Pablo can bring us. There were some legal issues that we needed to get done.
“But our intention is to keep him on a permanent transfer and I think it will be announced as soon as possible.”
Arteta also revealed that Portuguese international full-back Cedric will join on a free transfer from Southampton — despite not playing for Arsenal since arriving in January.
The Gunners boss said: “It was the plan to sign Cedric but he’s been so unlucky with injuries and hasn’t played.
“But we think he’s a player that will improve the squad and will give us more depth so hopefully we can do it.”
Arteta wants to get his team back on track at Southampton tomorrow after back-to-back defeats at Manchester City and Brighton since the restart.
But he will have eight players out at St Mary’s after Brazilian winger Martinelli became the latest on the injury list.
Arteta confirmed: “On Monday he got hit by another player in the last moments of training and has damaged his knee.
“The doctor is still assessing the injury but it’s not looking good.
The Brazilian star, 19, injured a cartilage in his left knee during training on Sunday – a day after the 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
“We don’t know how long he’ll be out for but it’s looking like months.”
Gunners keeper Leno, who injured a knee on Saturday, is likely to be back earlier than feared.
Arteta said: “We don’t know the full extent but at least we know the cruciate ligaments are not damaged and that was our biggest fear at the start.”
