Two more Arsenal stars to follow in Ozil and Sanchez’s footsteps

Arsenal are facing the prospect of two more of their stars running down their contracts, according to a report.

The Times claim both Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey have held preliminary talks with the club, but talks are expected to drag on – in a similar manner to the situations of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Both Ramsey, 26, and Welbeck, 27, will have just 12 months remaining on their existing deals next summer.

Apparently Welbeck and Ramsey are both open to extending their stays at The Emirates, but neither will be hounded into signing up quickly as the club bid to appease fans and avoid more contract uncertainty with their stars.

The Arsenal duo are also looking to see what the club have planned in the transfer market next summer and much will depend on whether the Gunners can get back into the Champions league, as well as the level of financial security offered by the club.

Arsenal paid Cardiff £4.8million for Ramsey in June 2008, and he has gone on to play over 300 games for the club, while Welbeck signed from Man Utd for £16million in September 2014 and has made 80 appearances for Arsene Wenger.

Theo Walcott will also find himself with just 12 months to run on his contract next summer, but his future at the club looks less certain as he has yet to receive any indication from Arsenal about his future.

And at today’s press conference, Wenger failed to mention Walcott, who missed out against West Ham through injury. The striker though has a groin problem and won’t be in the squad to face Newcastle.

An oversight from Wenger, or simply out of mind?