Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn believes his former club needs to revise it’s stance on renewing players’ contracts.
The Gunners lost the services of both Robin van Persie and Alex Song to Manchester United and Barcelona respectively this summer, leaving right-back Bacary Sagna recently admitting that despite having one more year left on his contract he has not heard from anybody at the club about a new deal even though he wants to stay at Arsenal.
This concerns Winterburn, and the ex-England international wants the club to put an end to this worrying habit.
He recently told talkSPORT’s ‘Kick Off Show’:
‘I would think that there has to be an internal review at the football club as to why several players are getting right down to inside the last year of their contracts.
‘Really you need to start nailing them down when they’ve got a year-and-a-half to go.
‘When you drop inside that last year, in players’ minds they’re starting to question if the clubs still want them, a little bit.’
Undoubtedly Winterburn is right. The club need to stop letting our best players’ contracts run down to the last year. It’s just a risk which is unnecessary to take, and it seems as if the board and those involved don’t care about it, which is frustrating to us the fans and players alike.
The club need to sort this situation out and seem to have finally taken notice by trying to tie down Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to a new improved deal. However, they haven’t spoken to Sagna, who recently expressed his concern on the matter.
Hopefully they put an end to this once and for all.
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There as been a lot of re action to this subject over the last 3 months but it is not as straight forward as getting out your cheque book.
Firstly I would ask the moaners rewind 2 years when RVP had played less than 20 games for the previous 2 years and his form was only so-so, would you have wanted to offer him a 5 year top range contract No of course you would not, because if he continued in the same vain everybody would have moaned that you threw money at best an average player who could have been out for the rest of the season. Each player as to be looked at and a decision made hoping you have made the right one and with outside influences of the Chelseas/Man City/Man utd of this world this decision is twice as difficult, so please all you good fans who read this think twice before opening your mouths to what ever is the latest gossip.
The big RVP merchandise throw away day
The man has obviously no respect for us so why should we have any for him.No gooner surely still wears his shirt or drinks from his cup or wears his scarf or waves his flag or whatever you bought to support his one great year for us,so why not on that fatefull day he returns to our club playing against us dont you just throw it onto the pitch before the Kick off so he actually realises how he has left us feeling.AFC has to know how this unbelievable event has affected the fans.This transfer cant just be brushed under the carpet…….can it.
@ Bob A
Perfect comment Bob, the same with Diaby, fans demanded he be cut because he was fragile,Wenger holding on to him. Diaby’s form making Wenger look like a genius.
As you pointed out, so much depends on luck and non-controllable factors.
Sagna’s comments probably out of context but a great player, approaching 30, returning from two broken legs. Lets see how he does before offering a new long term contract.
Thanks Paul I thought I was the only person singing from this hymn sheet, your comments on Sagna spot on and the point I was trying to make
There is something fundermental mentioned by someone above. In reards to Van Persie not even an idiot would havw ocfered RvP a contract after spending 6 years on treamemt table. He plays 1full season well and therafter wants out. Believe me he will pay one or another-just you watch. However, this a recuring problem whereby people like Edu, Flamini left for nowt and Wenger was cought out due to the fact he is solely responsible for transfer and contract renewal on top of his other duties.
Until Wenger is willing to accept that players over 30 can play until 32 to 34,players will continue to leave at 28and 29. They don’t feel secure.