Young striker Folarin Balogun is close to signing a new contract at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has confirmed.
Balogun’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the season and there has been much speculation over the 19-year-old’s future.
But Gunners boss Arteta revealed at a press conference on Wednesday morning that Balogun is set to put pen to paper.
“We are very close,” said Arteta, who suggested the club needed to work hard to keep the player after he indicated that he wanted to move on.
Arteta explained: “We had to understand why he was thinking of leaving the club after he was raised here and then try to explain how involved he is going to be with the project and get his full commitment from the club.
“We will make it official when everything is done but I am very positive that he wants to stay.”
Arsenal face Slavia Prague in the Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday.
The tie is finely poised after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
“We have a chance to go into semi-final of European competition, which is exactly where this club has to be,” said Arteta.
“Results help convince people you are going in the right direction, absolutely.
“The only tangible thing is results. Internally you know what you are doing but externally results are the only important thing.”