Mesut Ozil is close to signing a new contract with Arsenal, claims Gunners legend Alan Smith.
Like his teammate Alexis Sanchez, Ozil is out of contract at the end of the season.
Although Sanchez's departure is imminent, the same can't be said about Ozil, who Arsene Wenger has insisted wants to remain at the Emirates.
"My sources tell me he is quite close to signing a new contract," Smith, who scored over 100 goals for Arsenal, told Premier League Daily. "We've not heard much on that and it sounds like negotiations have gone on behind the scenes and he will sign.
"He's been a different player the last couple of months when he's been fit.
"He's really been putting in a shift, he looks energised, more enthusiasm than he did have and he looks the player that we all think he can be on a consistent basis.
"If he does sign you just want him to continue that. You hope he is not playing in this fashion because he wants to win a new contract.
"He's a top player and to lose Sanchez is bad enough but if you lost Ozil as well, that bit of creativity, it would almost be a mortal blow, a real kick in the teeth for Arsenal."
Smith added: "He's of that personality where sometimes he will just go down into a little bit of a lull and that's where he does need a kick up the backside from a manager to keep him going and from team-mates as well on the pitch.
"Arsene Wenger really isn't that type to give him a rocket so I don't think that's helped him and it has not helped the team. He's definitely got it in him but whether he will perform to that level week-in-week-out is another matter.
"Almost Ozil has been in a good position in that he knows Sanchez is going, he's in a good negotiating position as far as when his people talk to Arsenal to get a deal."