• Premier League

Wenger confident of keeping star names

ESPN staff
March 30, 2012
Arsene Wenger is confident for the future © Getty Images
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Arsene Wenger is confident Arsenal will retain the services of star names such as Robin van Persie next season.

The current campaign is heading towards the business end, with Arsenal battling to secure third spot and Champions League qualification that comes with it.

Taking third place may be a key bargaining chip with regard to player recruitment and persuading star names to stay at the Emirates.

The biggest name of all is Van Persie who has a little over a year to run on his present commitmentm while Theo Walcott and Alex Song are in similar situations.

The Dutchman has insisted he will discuss his future in the summer and Wenger remains confident star names will not head out of the door.

"[We will try to arrange new contracts] very early," he said. "Yes I am [confident that these players will commit]. To say that I am always confident, yes I am. Of course we want to keep our best players.

"These players want to win things and they want to be in a team that has a chance. Our end of season will help that to help me convince them that they can [here]. It depends now how well we finish.

"Newspapers open talks now. They should inform me how much they offer and for how long because I would like to know!"

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