Arsenal 'ready to trigger Granit Xhaka contract extension'

The Switzerland captain was on the verge of leaving Arsenal under Unai Emery, as tensions with supporters boiled over during a clash with Crystal Palace in 2019.

Xhaka responded to boos and jeers from fans by gesturing and swearing, leading Emery to strip him of the armband ahead of an expected exit in the forthcoming January window.

However, Xhaka agreed to stay until at least the end of the season under Mikel Arteta, and he has since enjoyed an unexpected redemption arc under the Spaniard to become an integral cog in the Gunners' system.

Amid interest from Jose Mourinho's Roma, Xhaka penned a new contract with Arsenal until 2024 last summer, but his long-term future is now up in the air after he entered the final 18 months of those terms.

The Premier League leaders possess the option to trigger a one-year extension in Xhaka's contract, though, and talkSPORT claims that the club are now ready to activate that option.

While Xhaka will therefore be tied to the club until 2025, the report adds that Arteta is determined to keep the 30-year-old at the club for even longer with a brand-new deal.

The former Borussia Monchengladbach man was signed for the Gunners under Arsene Wenger in 2016, and he has since amassed 18 goals and 27 assists in 286 games for the North London giants.

With Thomas Partey staying fit for most of the season, Xhaka has stolen the spotlight in a more attack-minded role with four goals and five assists from 36 outings across all competitions in the current campaign.

Xhaka has not been considered for the permanent captaincy again, but he has worn the armband on four occasions this season during Martin Odegaard's absence, acting as skipper in three Europa League games and their FA Cup fourth-round loss to Manchester City.

Arsenal have already tied Mohamed Elneny down to a new one-year deal until 2024, but they are expected to pursue a new lynchpin in the summer regardless of Xhaka's contract situation.

The Gunners brought in Jorginho on transfer deadline day in January after failing with two bids for Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo, who was off limits during the winter.

Brighton are now said to be reluctant to negotiate with Arsenal again due to the Gunners not heeding warnings to back off, but Arteta's side are now believed to have switched their attention to Declan Rice anyway.

The England international is out of contract at the end of next season, and Arsenal are thought to be leading the race for his services, but a fee of £80m could still be required to prise him away from the London Stadium.

Arsenal will endeavour to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League when they host Sporting Lisbon on Thursday evening following a 2-2 draw in last week's first leg.