Arsenal are set to reward Brazilian midfielder Edu with a new deal at Highbury.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has revealed the club are ready to open negotiations with the 25-year-old about extending his stay.
Edu has just over a year to run on his current deal and Wenger is keen to secure him on a new long-term contract.
The former Corinthians star has established himself as a key member of Wenger's side despite a difficult start to his Highbury career and he has shown his best form in recent weeks with starring shows in the wins against Chelsea and Celta Vigo.
"We want to keep him here longer than his current contract," Wenger told the London Evening Standard. "We will be looking to extend his stay."
Wenger admitted he was close to letting Edu return to Brazil during his first season at the club, but the Frenchman was delighted he took the risk to keep him.
"It was 50-50 whether he would stay," added Wenger "He has blossomed as a player and is a very intelligent footballer.
"He has two ingredients that are important in your career - intelligence and motivation.
"He is so strong mentally. If you look at all the problems he has had - family bereavement, the passport problem and injuries - he has needed that mental strength.
"I decided to keep him because of the qualities I saw when he was playing in Brazil.
"He had to battle to show those here but I took that risk.
"He is playing well this season but people forget that he also played a significant part when we won the Double in 2002."
Meanwhile, Gunners youngster Ryan Smith will miss the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury.
The highly-rated attacker picked up the injury in the reserves against Ipswich earlier this month and tests have shown the full extent of the problem.
Smith, who made three appearances in the first team this season in the Carling Cup, is set to be out of action for between six to nine months.
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