Dubai: Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal has said he wants to stay at the North London club despite transfer rumours linking him with a return to Spain.
The 29-year-old former Osasuna and Malaga defender only has a year left on his current contract at The Emirates Stadium and has been linked with a summer move to Atletico Bilbao or Atletico Madrid.
But speaking on the sidelines of his visit to Arsenal Soccer Schools at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday — where he arrived with the club’s newly retained FA Cup trophy — he spoke to end speculation surrounding his future.
“I only have one year left on my contract but I would like to stay at Arsenal, because I’m very happy at Arsenal and very lucky to be an Arsenal player,” said the Pamplona-born fullback who joined Arsenal from Malaga for £8.5 million in 2013.
“Obviously, if the boss [Arsene Wenger] wants me to stay I will do, because I’m very happy. We are in contact with the club because my main intention is staying at Arsenal and I hope I can extend my contract for more years,” he added.
Monreal made 28 appearances for Arsenal in the English Premier League this season and secured a first team place ahead of Kieran Gibbs.
“Kieran is an amazing player,” he added. “I can imagine it’s really difficult for the boss to choose between Kieran and me.
“Obviously, this is football and only 11 players can start and the boss needs to choose between him or me. But I think this is a good thing for the team because we have to give our best everyday in training or I know I wouldn’t play.
“I think in this position it is lucky we have two good players, I’ve played a lot of games this season and I feel I’ve done really well and would like to keep going.”
Of Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup final on Saturday, he said: “As you can imagine after you win a trophy everyone feels really well, this is a very good moment for Arsenal. That we could win a second cup in a row was an amazing feeling for everyone.
“We are very happy to win the FA Cup and would like next year if we could fight for all things like the Premier League and the Champions League as well. We know that will be completely different as there are a lot of good teams in the Premier League but we will fight to win the title.
“I think we are a good team with amazing players in this moment, obviously we want to fight to win and I can imagine this summer the club will bring one or two top players and we will be stronger with more chance to fight for the Premier League.”
