DUBAI // Nacho Monreal, the Arsenal defender, says the club are “one or two” summer signings away from becoming Premier League contenders next season – and he wants to stay to be a part of it.
The Spanish full-back has one year left on his contract at the north London club and is reportedly attracting interest from Athletic Bilbao.
On Tuesday in Dubai, though, Monreal said he hopes to have an extended stay at the Emirates Stadium.
“I have one more year on my contract and I would like to stay at Arsenal,” said Monreal, who travelled to the UAE with the FA Cup trophy his side won at the weekend to make a guest appearance at Dubai’s Arsenal Soccer Schools.
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“I am very lucky to play for Arsenal, I am very happy playing and I would like to stay longer.
“We are in contact with the club because my main intention is to stay in Arsenal. I hope I can extend my stay for more years.”
Monreal was part of the side who beat Aston Villa 4-0 at Wembley on Saturday.
He says a second successive cup win can help fuel a title push in the league next season, so long as they are active in the transfer market this summer.
“It was a very good moment for Arsenal to win the second FA Cup in a row. It was an amazing feeling for everyone,” said the 29-year-old left-back. “Hopefully it will help in the fight for other things like the Premier League and the Champions League.
“We know it is really difficult to compete because there are other good teams in the Premier League, but we will fight.
“We are a good team with amazing players at this moment but, obviously, if we are going to fight for the Premier League I can imagine this summer the club need to bring in one or two top players.
“We will be stronger and have more chance to fight for the Premier League.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
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SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
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Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
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Key findings of Jenkins report
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The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
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Dust storm
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Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
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Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
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Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
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MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
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The specs
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Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
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On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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