Arsenal defender signs long-term contract

18-year-old Arsenal defender Chiori Johnson has committed his long-term future to the club, after signing a brand new contract, it has been confirmed.

The right back, who graduated through the club’s Hale End academy, had a season full of injury problems but came back to become a key member of the under-21 set-up, proving himself to be more than worth a place at the north London side.

Johnson was also a member of the under-18s team that got all the way to the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup, only to be knocked out by eventual runners-up Manchester City, who lost out to Chelsea in the final.

The teenager could find himself amongst the first-team places in the side next season after an impressive end to the season, with Carl Jenkinson out injured, Calum Chambers shifted to a more central role and Mathieu Debuchy set to leave the club. With just Hector Bellerin as a senior full back, Johnson may provide some stern right-back, with some games in the Capital One Cup expected.