Arsenal are still facing injury problems ahead of this afternoon’s game against West Ham United but manager Arsene Wenger can look at the future with optimism knowing that youngsters Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny are close to extend their stay at the Club.

Speaking on Friday, the Frenchman confirmed that negotiations with the goalkeeper have started as he revealed how the player wants to stay at Arsenal and how he wants to keep him as he believes he is a very talented player.

On Jack Wilshere, Wenger explained that he still has 18 months left but how he will try to secure the services of the Englishman for the future as well.

The 18-year old is out of this afternoon’s game because of suspension with Wenger saying how the initial plan was to use him further up the pitch but how he was impressive even when sitting deep.

On contract renewals, Wenger said:

An offer has been made. We are negotiating with him and try to extend his contract. He wants to stay, I want [Szczesny] to stay, so basically [a] plus plus [a] plus should be [a] plus!

I want to play him but our job is about competition. However he has the qualities to fight for the position and that is what I wish.

Everybody advised me to buy goalkeepers and suddenly you ask me the reverse question that I have too many good goalkeepers!

However Wojciech is a very talented young one. We brought him in and he made the effort to come to the Club at the age of 16.

He wants to be successful here and I want him to be successful here, so normally it should work out.

Jack [Wilshere] has 18 months to go. I will try to get him on a longer contract but we are not short, short with him because he has basically two years left. We hope that we can announce that soon.

Overall I feel Jack has had a great start to the season. We expected him to play in a higher position on the pitch but basically it suits him quite well to play from deep.