William Gallas maintains he has no intention of leaving Arsenal this summer. The veteran defender, who turns 32 in August, has endured something of a difficult spell since arriving from Chelsea two years ago.

Last season, Manager Arsene Wenger replaced Gallas as Arsenal captain, handing the title to Cesc Fabregas following public criticism of the young squad and reports of a bust-up between Gallas and defensive partner Kolo Toure.

However, somewhat ironically, the Frenchman then went on to produce a string of consistent displays as the Gunners found some form over the latter part of the campaign. Gallas did however miss the closing weeks of the season due to injury.

The arrival of young Belgian Thomas Vermaelen had spurred rumours of a summer transfer to Inter Milan for Gallas; a move that would see him reunited with old Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. Wenger has continued to give the French footballer his full support, denying suggestions that he had played his last game at the Emirates; Gallas also insists that he is fully focused on the new campaign ahead with the Gunners.

"I am at Arsenal, my contract is still valid for a year, so I am an Arsenal player," Gallas said, before adding: "We have not talked about renewing the contract, but I am relaxed and looking forward to next season with Arsenal."

Wenger remains keen to further strengthen his squad before the new campaign, which will see Arsenal face a qualification play-off to reach the lucrative group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

Brazilian holding midfielder Felipe Melo was strongly linked with a switch from Fiorentina, only to sign a new contract with the club. Udinese's Gokhan Inler is another midfielder on Wenger's radar.

While Arsenal look set to retain the services of sought-after skipper Fabregas, set for extra recovery time following the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009, and Robin van Persie, last season's top scorer, the future of Emmanuel Adebayor is yet to be resolved one way or another - with AC Milan continuing their interest.

Manchester City, meanwhile, remain keen on Toure, who handed in a transfer request at the start of the year before then settling back into the side.

Robin van Persie has signed a new deal at Arsenal that will keep him at the Emirates until 2014, allaying fears that he could prompt a mass exodus of the club's top players.

The Dutch international had just one year on his deal left to run but has signed up for an additional four years, making him one of the club's better earners at around £80,000 a week. He follows Theo Walcott in committing himself to Arsène Wenger and is crucial to the Arsenal manager's plans next season.

Van Persie is on holiday in the south of France and will not return for pre-season training until a week on Monday. He had been in contract talks with the club since the new year and, like many of his team-mates, had delayed his decision to sign until he was sure that Arsenal had qualified for the Champions League, which they eventually did by a comfortable margin.

The club have also announced new deals for the teenagers Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs this week, but their most important work has been assuring Van Persie that there is still the potential to challenge for trophies under Wenger. The Dutchman joined from Feyenoord five years ago and has established himself as one of the key members of the squad in the last few seasons.

Sources close to the club have indicated that even if Wenger loses Emmanuel Adebayor this summer –despite the fact that there is less interest in him than 12 months ago – Wenger will not look to sign another striker. Instead he will stick with his current selection – Van Persie, Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo da Silva and Carlos Vela – for the new season.