Nacho Monreal says he could stay at Arsenal until 2020 after revealing the club have an option to extend his current contract by an extra year.

The Spain international put pen-to-paper on a three-year extension in January 2016 says he’s happy at the club having consolidated his credentials as Arsene Wenger’s first choice left-back.

“I am very happy at Arsenal and I feel important because Wenger has shown me confidence,” Monreal told ABC.es.

“I have two years left to contract, an optional third, and the idea is to stay there. I am aware that football can change, but I’m playing and in my head, the idea is to stay.”

Arsenal have got into the habit of inserting extension clauses in the contract of their veteran stars with Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla and Per Mertesacker all benefitting. Monreal will be 33 when his current deal is up.

As the player says, things can change quickly in football. No doubt much will depend on what happens next season with Bosnian international Sead Kolasinac tipped to challenge the Spaniard for a starting berth. The left-back is due to sign from Schalke on a free in the coming days; a move that could call time on Kieran Gibbs’ decade at the club.

Monreal also reflected on the season gone by, admitting that Arsenal’s failure to qualify for the Champions League was a disappointment.

“We had an irregular season, we did not meet the goal of being in the top four, but we made up for the [league] season with the victory in the FA Cup and we leave [for the summer] with good feelings,” he said.

“I have played most games, I have felt important and I have been well,” he concluded.