Ljungberg pens new Gunners deal

Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg on Thursday committed his long-term future to the club by extending his contract until summer 2009.

While Patrick Vieira has departed this summer and Robert Pires remains circumspect with regards to his future, the news that Ljungberg is staying with the Gunners will be warmly received.

The Swedish international’s existing contract had been due to expire next summer, but by signing on for a further three years the 28-year-old has signalled his intention to remain with the FA Cup winners into his thirties.

“I’ve been at Arsenal nearly seven years now and am really happy to have signed a new contract with the club,” Ljungberg told www.arsenal.com.

“I’m looking forward to the new season, to winning more trophies and also to playing in our new stadium in 2006.”

Ljungberg cost Arsenal £3m (€4.3m) when he arrived from Swedish side Halmstad in September 1998, and he has been one of Arsene Wenger’s most astute signings.

With 265 appearances and 68 goals, Ljungberg’s midfield role has been key to Arsenal’s success, and the Swede has collected two Premiership winners’ medals, as well as three in the FA Cup.

Pires will wait until January before deciding on his future after reaching deadlock in contract talks at Highbury.

The Frenchman has been linked with moves to Juventus and Galatasaray after failing to agree fresh terms with the Gunners, but he remains in north London and seems likely to begin the season an Arsenal player.

The 32-year-old French winger, whose contract is up next summer, has been offered a one-year extension to his contract but he wants two years.

“We’ll talk again in January. There is nothing new about my contract situation and things are not going to change now,” he told the Evening Standard.

“I’m going to play through the last year of my contract and I will meet with manager Arsene Wenger early in the New Year.

“That will be the source of motivation for me in the months before then. I’m going to be in the same position as Dennis Bergkamp has been in for some years.”