Not Arteta or Rice: Arsenal are about to make a huge contract mistake

Arsenal are on the verge of reaching agreements with Declan Rice and Mikel Arteta over new contracts, while another man at the Emirates is reportedly set to receive an extension to his current deal.

The Gunners have had a number of contract situations on their agenda since tying down the likes of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes over the last 18 months. Arteta's terms have been at the forefront for the key decision-makers at the Emirates, and it appears a breakthrough is imminent.

The Spaniard will sign a new deal, which will see his tenure surpass ten years if he sees the fresh contract out. Meanwhile, Rice is expected to sign on until 2031, securing the North Londoners one of the best midfielders on the planet for a while longer.

Rice pulled out of England's squad for the upcoming international fixtures, and Arsenal have clearly used this break in the season to accelerate contract talks with the player. He's not the only one who is expected to be locked in negotiations over the next three weeks.

According to FootballTransfers, the Gunners will sit down with another star to discuss his future over the international break.

Ben White in contract extension talks with Arsenal

FootballTransfers report that Ben White will sit down with club officials over a contract extension during this international break.

White's current deal expires in the summer of 2028, and given he remains a key player in Arteta's squad, the Gunners are keen to extend the right-back's stay in N5. Contract talks are reportedly set to 'ramp up' in the next few days, with the expectation being that the former Brighton man could be offered a one or two-year extension to his existing agreement.

There were reports indicating that Arsenal might've been willing to move White on over the summer, although after William Saliba sustained a serious back injury at the World Cup, this position was revised. The 28-year-old has worked himself back into Arteta's thoughts at the beginning of this season due to Jurrien Timber's absence, and looks set to reap the rewards for this minor renaissance by securing an additional spell in North London.

Offering Ben White a contract extension would be a mistake

As impressive as White has been at times this term, he's also shown signs of fragility. There's no doubting that his body has been damaged by the excessive workload that has been placed on him in the past, and his athleticism is no longer quite what it was.

While he's still an exceptional player who can offer Arsenal a lot in possession, he looks somewhat vulnerable defensively against the very best opponents. This aspect of his game is only likely to decline further as he edges towards his 30s.

He's not on an astronomical wage (£150,000-a-week according to Capology), so committing one final year to him wouldn't be hugely costly economically. However, if he stays for the 2028/29 season, he'll be 31 for the majority of that final campaign.

So much of White's game is his ability to get up and down the line and support the attack with overlapping runs. It's difficult to envisage him keeping this up when he's in his early 30s.

Thus, it makes little sense to keep the player for much longer than next season. Even if he is able to maintain his high-octane style, or evolve back into being a centre-back, there is an argument that Arsenal should begin to look towards the future and bring in White's successor sooner rather than later.

That said, it's certainly possible that offering White an extension is a ploy to protect his value heading into next summer. At 29 and with one year left, no one will be willing to pay actual money for White. With two years left, it's possible potential suitors will be willing to fork out a somewhat significant fee.

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