Arsenal are opening contract talks with Aaron Ramsey as part of an effort to avoid a repeat next summer of the uncertainty that is currently hanging over so many key players.

Although the contract situations of Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny have been largely a consequence of their peripheral first-team involvement, three of Arsenal’s starting team in the FA Cup final are now also into the final year of their contracts.

Discussions are ongoing with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but there is a looming danger of similar uncertainty next year when Ramsey, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck are among those out of contract. Ramsey’s situation is most urgent. At 26, he is likely to represent the biggest asset on the transfer market but, more importantly, appears most central to Wenger’s plans.

The change to a 3-4-2-1 system at the end of last season clearly benefitted Arsenal defensively but a major knock-on was how Ramsey thrived in a more liberated central midfield role and ultimately scored the winning FA Cup final goal.

His contract expires in 2019 and, having signed an extension in 2014 that took his earnings to in excess of £100,000-a-week, will be offered a new deal that will maintain his status among the club’s current top earners.