Ozil signs new long-term contract with Arsenal

Arsenal announced Thursday the club has signed Mesut Ozil to a new deal, penning the Germany international to a long-term contract, which Ozil revealed will run for three more years.

David Ornstein of BBC Sport reports that Ozil's new deal would make him the highest-paid player in club history, earning about £350,000 a week before taxes. He adds that Ozil is set to stay at the Emirates Stadium until 2021.

Since making his £42.4-million move to Arsenal out of Real Madrid in 2013, Ozil has been a vital part of Arsene Wenger's team, scoring 36 goals and recording 61 assists in 182 appearances. He helped the Gunners win three FA Cup trophies, and also won the FIFA World Cup with Germany in 2014.

Ozil's contract situation has been something of a lingering storyline since the end of the 2016-17 campaign, as both he and Alexis Sanchez neared the end of their respective deals with the club. While Sanchez opted to leave, Ozil's decision to stay comes one day after the Gunners signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a move that sees the former Borussia Dortmund man reunite with fellow new signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan in Wenger's team.

Supporters of the club will hope Ozil's new teammates help build on an already stellar 2017-18 season that has seen the German midfielder score four goals, notch seven assists, and create 70 chances in 21 matches.