Journalist claims Arsenal will prioritise contract extensions for two first team stars

Arsenal will turn their attention to prioritising contract extensions for two first team stars, according to journalist Charles Watts.

The Gunners have completed the signings of three players this summer, with Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz arriving at the Emirates Stadium.

And Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Ajax star Mohammed Kudus as they search for competition in attacking areas. Kudus is primarily a right winger, but is also capable of playing as a centre forward.

An equally important piece of business, however, has been the improved contracts handed out to the club's existing stars.

The club committed Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to fresh deals prior to the window, with William Saliba's new contract signed in the summer.

It means that Arsenal have been able to retain the core of the squad that finished second in the Premier League last season, whilst adding quality where required.

And according to Watts, the Gunners will enter talks with two more players over new contracts.

Arsenal 'plan further contract extensions'

Speaking to TEAMtalk, Watts claims that Arsenal want to hand defender Ben White and club captain Martin Odegaard fresh deals in the coming weeks or months.

Both players played a key role for the Gunners last season. Odegaard scored a career-best tally of 15 goals during the Premier League campaign, while White successfully transitioned from centre-back into an inverted right-back role.

Watts explained: "They've done amazing work in terms of getting all those really, really key players tied down. Ben White and Martin Odegaard will be the next two.

"I'm sure that will happen - that those two will get signed up. Those will certainly be the two priorities now. I don't really have any concerns that those two are going to become any sort of sagas.

"I think they'll both get signed up, and they'll both extend. And that's it.

"It's just showing where Arsenal are as a club right now, and the work that they've done, that they can get these players, when in the past, they would have lost at least one or two of them."