Arsenal attacker Gabriel Martinelli has reportedly agreed a new four-and-a-half year contract with the Gunners.
The 21-year-old's current deal expires in 18 months' time, although Arsenal would have been able to trigger a two-year option to keep him on the books until 2026.
However, Martinelli is still on the same terms that he signed upon his arrival from Ituano in 2019, and Arsenal have been keen to hand him a new deal which reflects his importance to the team.
All parties have been confident of getting a new contract for Martinelli over the line, and the Brazil international affirmed in November that he "just needed to get a pen".
"I'm very happy at Arsenal. I said it many times. This is my club. I love to be here, I love the city, the club, everything about Arsenal," Martinelli told a press conference. "I want to stay. I'm very happy. I just need to get a pen."
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According to The Athletic, Martinelli has now given the green light to a new four-and-a-half year deal at the Emirates, which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
The report adds that Martinelli is yet to sign his new contract, but the draft offer is now being finalised, and he will continue in North London red after a rapid rise since joining from Ituano - then in the Brazilian fourth tier - three and a half years ago.
Unai Emery immediately made the South American a part of the first-team setup at Arsenal, and he has since registered 25 goals and 16 assists in 111 matches for the club in all competitions.
Martinelli has seven goals and three assists to his name from 27 matches in all competitions this season, helping Arsenal establish a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table.
The attacker's form earned him a call-up to Brazil's squad for the 2022 World Cup - having already won Olympic gold with the Selecao at the Tokyo 2020 Games - and he made two appearances in Qatar as Brazil lost to Croatia in the quarter-finals.
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However, Mikel Arteta's side lost 1-0 to the reigning English champions in Friday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at the Etihad, where Nathan Ake scored the only goal of the contest in the second half.
Speaking to the press after the game, Arteta was asked about reports of Martinelli agreeing a new contract, but the 40-year-old was unsurprisingly reluctant to discuss the matter.
"I don't talk about anything on our players until it's done," Arteta told ITV, as Martinelli prepares to become the second Gunners player to sign a new contract this season after compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arsenal are also working hard to tie Bukayo Saka and William Saliba down to new deals, with Martinelli's fellow 21-year-olds also due to become free agents at the end of next season.
Number one goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and midfield protege Charlie Patino are in line for fresh terms as well, but Arsenal recently triggered a two-year option in the latter's contract to keep him on the books until 2025.
Ben Knapton
