Arsenal will attempt to avoid a repeat of this summer’s destabilising transfer uncertainty by holding talks before Christmas with a series of key players whose contracts expire at the end of next season.

Aaron Ramsey, Petr Cech, Danny Welbeck, Nacho Monreal and Theo Walcott are among the first-team regulars who are only under contract until 2019 and, having appointed Huss Fahmy this summer from Team Sky to work with Dick Law on contracts, Arsenal intend to be proactive with those players they want to keep.

Further talks will also be held with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil following the rejection of deals understood to be worth around £280,000-a-week but there is currently little prospect of either player signing or Arsenal making an enhanced offer before their contracts expire next year.

Manager Arsene Wenger is confident, though, that both Sanchez and Ozil will focus on a successful season with Arsenal and not disrupt the group. Sanchez is currently being assessed by Chile after suffering an ankle injury in training ahead of their World Cup qualifier tonight against Bolivia.

Jack Wilshere has not been offered a new contract and there is clearly considerable doubt now over whether Santi Cazorla – who is also in the final year of his contract – will again play for the club after a series of serious ankle injuries and operations. He was left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad and will also not be included in the initial Europa League group.