Arsenal have activated a clause in Nacho Monreal’s contract to extend his current deal by a further year, according to reports, keeping him at the club until 2020.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: Nacho Monreal of Arsenal runs with the ball under pressure from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Fulham during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on October 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 07: Nacho Monreal of Arsenal runs with the ball under pressure from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Fulham during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on October 7, 2018, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

ESPN report that their sources have informed them Arsenal have activated a clause in Monreal’s current deal to extend it to the end of next season. The 32-year-old’s contract was set to expire at the end of the year, and the club were in talks with the player over a long-term extension.

For the time being, however, those talks have been put on hold, with Arsenal choosing to activate their one-year option instead.

It makes sense, considering Arsenal don’t want to lose the player for free in the summer, but they also can’t currently rely on him physically. The left-back is constantly out with one injury or another, even if he has been putting in pretty good performances when he’s available.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal celebrates his team's second goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal celebrates his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on November 25, 2018, in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Additionally, Sead Kolasinac is having a really good season, reducing Arsenal’s reliance on Monreal.

If Kolasinac was likely to leave this summer, Arsenal would want to have at least one of their left-backs tied down for the long term. Since it seems like that’s not an option, they can consider selling Monreal and bringing a new player in, or keeping the Spaniard as a backup for another year until his deal runs out.

Hopefully, Monreal will be back on the pitch fighting for his place as soon as possible.