Arsenal may not need to sign an Aaron Ramsey replacement this summer with Joe Willock set to stay at the Emirates.
The Gunners have struggled for goals in midfield since the mercurial Welshman left north London to join Italian giants Juventus.
However, Hale-End academy graduate Joe Willock has showcased his goalscoring ability during his successful five-month loan spell with Newcastle United.
The 21-year-old has been hugely impressive during his time in the North-East, bagging seven league goals in just 13 appearances for the Magpies.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has made it clear of his wishes for Willock to stay on Tyneside next season but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed Willock isn't going anywhere.
"Yes," said the Spaniard in his pre-match press conference, when asked if Willock was part of his long term plans at the moment.
"I'm really happy that things have gone so well for him because of the potential that Joe [Willock] has.
"I think it was great for him to go away and have a different experience. He has grabbed that opportunity in a really remarkable and positive way.
"He will be back with us, we will have those conversations with him and plan the next years for him."
When pushed for a more detailed response on where Willock would be next season Arteta confirmed he expects him to return to north London this summer.
"Well for sure because he’s got a contract and he’s going to be here, so that’s for sure," said the Spaniard after being quizzed on if the 21-year-old would be staying.
Arteta then admitted he had been following Willock's progress during his time at St James' Park and stated he's been hugely impressed with what the midfielder has showcased.
"He got the responsibility and the task to go to Newcastle to help them go where they want," he said.
"I’m telling you that I spoke with the coaching staff and they are extremely happy because he was a key part in contributing to get the objectives that they had. So that’s a real positive for him."
Willock was once told to seize the opportunity left behind by the likes of Ramsey and Jack Wilshere by former Gunners boss Unai Emery.
"He deserved to start this season with the first team and with us," Emery said in 2019.
“My decision was after I saw him the last two months of last season working with us, his really big challenge was that Jack Wilshere left here, Aaron Ramsey left and he had to take that opportunity to be with us.
“The last months of last year was the moment I spoke with him, and said: ‘For you it is a big challenge in the new season to do differently and really show us you can take their position in this squad’.”
He added: "We need to have different options in different positions in midfield. But Willock is really, really improving a lot – sometimes by being in the starting XI or off the bench with good impact.
“I told him he is improving but he needs to not stop that improvement, we are working with him to improve even more.
“But, if his progression keeps going the way it is going right now, I don’t know when he will stop and how far he can go."
