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Mikel Arteta has decided that Joe Willock is staying at the Emirates this season.
The Arsenal midfielder enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell at Newcastle United in the second part of last season, scoring eight goals, including a Premier League record of seven in successive games.
Newcastle have made no secret that they would like him back at St James Park, but, with no money to buy him permanently, have made an improved loan offer for him to return for the season ahead.
However, it now looks like their hopes are set to be dashed and that the Gunners want to keep him.
He has two years left on hs current contract at the Emirates, and there have been suggestions that he may be offered a new deal to protect his value.
The Gunners currently lack anybody who can score goals from midfield, although Willock’s style does not necessarily suit the more structured approach preferred by Mikel Arteta.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.