Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is confident that the club will come to an agreement with playmaker Martin Odegaard over a new contract.
The former Real Madrid protege was promoted to captain in just his second full season at the club and was a driving force in the Gunners' surprise title charge during the 2022-23 campaign.
A record of 15 goals was higher than any other Premier League midfielder, while he also added eight assists to his tally en route to a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
Arsenal signed Odegaard permanently for just £30.1m in the summer of 2021 following his successful loan spell, but his terms are now due to run out at the end of next season.
The Norway international was asked about the prospect of an Emirates renewal during the international break, to which he responded that he wanted to remain in North London for "a long time".
Arsenal are now said to be making progress in talks with the 24-year-old's entourage over a new deal until 2027, which would also see him rewarded with a raise on his £120,000-a-week wages.
Arteta was also pressed for an update in Friday's press conference, and while the Spaniard gave little away as expected, he affirmed that the club are "really close" with his agent and are hopeful of getting an extension done.
"I'm always optimistic. We're really close with him and his agent. Whenever that's confirmed we will announce it," Arteta told journalists ahead of Sunday's game against Everton.
"He's our captain, he's a massive player for us. Really important player for now and the future. We are extremely happy to have him and we want to keep him here for a long time."
Odegaard was hailed a generational talent after breaking into the Stromsgodset first team at just 15 years old, and he was snapped up by Real Madrid in 2015, but he made just 11 appearances for Los Blancos without registering a goal or assist.
However, the Scandinavian playmaker has now come up with 26 goals and 15 assists in 110 matches for Arsenal in all competitions, helping Arteta's men win this year's Community Shield, his first major trophy with the North London giants.
Following their return to the Champions League for the 2023-24 season, Arsenal have managed to retain their core of young talent, tying Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes, Reiss Nelson and William Saliba down to new deals.
A short-term extension was also agreed for veteran midfielder Mohamed Elneny, and right-back Ben White is thought to be the next player in line for contract talks after Odegaard.
The Gunners return to top-flight action away to Everton on Sunday afternoon, where they will seek to snap an abysmal run of results at Goodison Park, having not won a Premier League game at the ground since a 5-2 thrashing under Arsene Wenger in 2017.
Arsenal have since lost four and drawn one of their five encounters in the blue half of Merseyside, although they thumped Sean Dyche's men 4-0 at the Emirates six months ago. body check tags ::
