Aaron Ramsey claims he thought an extension to his Arsenal contract had been agreed at one stage, but he is now planning on running down his deal and dropping into the free agent pool.
The Wales international has seen his future become the subject of much speculation this season after entering the final 12 months of his current agreement with the Gunners.
He is not the first to have found himself in such a situation, with Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Jack Wilshere having done likewise during the 2017-18 campaign.
Ozil is the only member of that trio to still be in north London and Ramsey has announced his intention to head for the exits rather than commit to fresh terms.
He will not be departing during the January transfer window, as Sanchez did when linking up with Manchester United, but told reporters after representing his country in a friendly clash with Spain: “Would I stay for the rest of the season? Of course, yeah.
Next Match
“I am contracted to Arsenal and I am going to do my best now this season to try and achieve something special.”
Fresh terms for Ramsey had been mooted for some time prior to him entering the last year of his deal.
The 27-year-old midfielder says he was under the impression that an extended stay had been agreed during protracted talks, but admits that he now has no offers on the table .
Getty
He added: “Everything has been going great with the club – we thought we were in a position where we had agreed a deal but that’s no longer the case.
“So, I just have to carry on playing my football and do my best for Arsenal this season and I’ll leave the rest with the club now.
“Am I disappointed? That’s a decision that they have made and things happen in football and you just have to get on with it and carry on playing the best I can. That’s all I am concentrating on and giving my best for Arsenal.”
Ramsey has remained an important part of the Gunners’ plans throughout the uncertainty surrounding his future.
He has started six of eight Premier League games under Unai Emery, contributing one goal and three assists.
