Raul Sanllehi announces a major change in Arsenal contract policy, while a former club star has been appointed for the executive role.
Arsenal are in top form at the moment. Unai Emery’s side is on a 10-game winning run across all competitions in the season so far. The Gunners are yet to lose a game since their defeat to Chelsea in the second Premier League game of the season.
Arsenal emerged 1-0 winners against Sporting Lisbon in their last match on Thursday, with Danny Welbeck’s goal enough to secure another three points in the Europa League.
This was also Arsenal’s first ever win in a UEFA competition in Portugal. Unai Emery’s men now return to the Premier League with an away trip to Crystal Palace today.
In the meantime, significant developments are taking place in the Arsenal board. Raul Sanllehi has announced a major change in Arsenal’s contract policy, and a former club star has been promoted to the executive team.
Arsenal contract policy:
Arsenal’s head of football, Raul Sanllehi insisted that all major decisions regarding players’ contract need to be taken before the player enters the final year of the deal.
“In general, I do believe that a player’s contract should never go to the last year, as a policy,” Sanllehi said.
“I don’t think I am inventing the wheel. Anybody could agree on that. Normally, the contracts of the players are for five years. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to do with that player when he is in the third year, at the latest.”
In the January transfer window this year, Mesut Ozil was given a staggering 350k/week, with the German midfielder only six months away from seeing off his previous contract. Alexis Sanchez, who faced a similar contract situation, left the side for Manchester United.
This year, the talks for a new contract between Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal failed, and as things stand, Ramsey would leave the club on a free at the end of the season.
It is also reported by The Telegraph that former club star Per Mertesacker, who retired at the end of the 2017/18 season, has been promoted to the executive team. Mertesacker has seen a significant rise in his position since retirement, as the former German star was appointed as the academy manager at the start of the season.
What next?
Arsenal will take on Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace on Sunday with the aim of extending their winning run to 11 games across all competitions.
