New contract until 2014 for Arsenal midfielder
Frenchman Samir Nasri to be rewarded for seven goals in his last seven games
Arsenal are ready to hand a new contract to Samir Nasri after the French midfielder’s impressive start to the season.
Nasri is in the finest goalscoring form of his career and has been hailed by Arsene Wenger as a ‘complete player’ after his latest dazzling display on Sunday.
The 23-year-old’s opening goal on Sunday brought his goal tally to seven in his last seven games, form that has elicited special praise from his manager, who has watched his compatriot step up to the plate in the recent absence of Cesc Fabregas.
“At 23 your career starts at the top level and he is becoming more efficient,” said Wenger. “I think he has become stronger physically and you judge a player with his numbers. On Sunday he had a goal and an assist, that’s what you want from players who have a lot of talent like he has.”
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Nasri has already equalled his best tally for a season, having scored seven in his first season at the Emirates, but only five last term after a broken leg saw him miss the opening three months of the season.
His current contract expires in 2012, and the Arsenal board are ready to offer him a two-year extension on improved terms as recognition of his recent progress.
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Perhaps the recent arrival of Gunners legend Robert Pires at the Arsenal training ground has had some influence on Nasri. Pires regularly reached double figures in his six seasons at Arsenal, scoring 19 in the ‘invincible’ 2003-04 campaign.
Wenger compared the two when he signed Nasri from Pires’s form club Marseille in 2008.
“Maybe there is a bit of Robert Pires in him because he looks to be able to change direction very easily and a little bit the same style of run. He is a bit smaller, but there’s a bit of Pires in there.” said Wenger at the time.
Two years on and Wenger feels Nasri has matured: “He is quite a complete player because he can run with the ball, he is quick and he is a clinical finisher now. I believe we have a great player in him now.”
