With the Premier League finally getting underway, the focus will undoubtedly be on the opening night’s offering and with Arsenal travelling to the Etihad and the attacking prowess of Manchester City, the likes of David Luiz and his fellow defenders will be severely tested.
While off the pitch, it is Luiz who is garnering the most attention as of late and with his one-year deal at the Emirates coming to an end, questions remain regarding the Brazilian international’s next move.
The announcement that the former Chelsea man could be looking for a new club, is a headline that caught nearly everyone unaware and with a two-year deal being reported after his cross-capital switch, that turned out not to be the case.
Arsenal Hopeful On David Luiz Emirates Extension
When Two Becomes One
Instead, the deal was only half in length and because of this development, Arsenal now run the risk of losing one of their more senior defensive members – something that they can ill afford to do without.
A weak backline has often been the criticism levelled at the Gunners and with Mikel Arteta taking over the reins halfway through this current season, trying to shore up the defence has been one of his main objectives.
It’s an objective that you would have to say he is close to reaching and if it is going to be a case of job very much done, the 38-year-old knows that he will need Luiz to stay around and see this task through to completion.
Arteta’s Public Praise
While the former Manchester City assistant is confident that an extension will be agreed, and with the Spaniard recently going on record by saying that he considers the 33-year-old a ‘key role model’, he will look to Luiz to also play the role of mentor.
That’s not to say the ex-Paris Saint-Germain star will stay on just to advise the development of others, there is a genuine belief that he still has a lot to offer Arsenal and any departure from the Emirates will be sorely felt.
In a pre-match press conference before the Manchester City clash, Arteta said:
“I’m really happy with David, I want to keep him here with us” and with the Arsenal manager going public on his desire, it will hopefully accelerate the act of pen subsequently being put to paper for another season.
Of course, for a defender of Luiz’s ilk, he will not be short of options and with a move to the MLS also tempting, he must decide whether to cash in for a new experience or stay put in the cosmopolitan bubble of London – a decision that will soon be made one way or another.
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