Arsenal are hoping to agree on new deals with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
A report from 90 Min claims that they have now opened contract talks with both defenders and it remains to be seen whether they can secure an agreement with the two players.
White has been a key player for Arsenal since joining the club from Brighton. He is capable of operating as a fullback as well as a central defender. He has been an indispensable asset for Mikel Arteta and it is no surprise that Arsenal want to keep him at the club for the long term. The defender is entering the peak years of his career and he will be a key player for the North London club in the coming seasons as well.
A versatile player like him is a very useful option to have especially during rotation and injuries. Arsenal must do everything in their power to secure his long-term future. It is highly unlikely that the defender will turn down the opportunity to extend his contract at the London club. Arsenal are one of the biggest teams in the country and they have been competing for the league title since last season. White will fancy his chances of winning major trophies with Arsenal in the coming seasons.
Meanwhile, Tomiyasu has been a useful asset for the Gunners as well. He is versatile enough to operate as a fullback as well as a central defender. The Japanese utility man is a useful squad player but he has struggled for game time at Arsenal this season. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal are prepared to provide him with ample game time assurances before signing a new deal. The Japanese international is certainly good enough to start for most teams in the league and he will want to play more regularly. If Arsenal cannot provide him with regular game time, the defender might consider a move away from the club in the coming months.
It will be interesting to see how the situation develops. Arsenal will need a deeper squad to compete with clubs like Manchester City and they need to hold onto useful squad players like White and Tomiyasu.
