Defensive duo prolong Highbury stay

Arsenal FC defensive duo Sol Campbell and Lauren have both agreed new contracts of at least two years.

Honours
English international centre-half Campbell has signed a deal which runs until 2007 with an option to extend it. The 30-year-old joined Arsenal in 2001 on a free transfer from north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC and helped his new club to the Premiership and FA Cup double in his first season, subsequently winning the 2002/03 FA Cup and 2003/04 Premiership. His initial four-year deal had been due to expire this summer.

Uncertainty ends
While Arsenal were confident that Campbell would prolong his stay at Highbury, Lauren's future was more uncertain after originally being offered a one-year extension. However, the Cameroonian full-back, 28, has now added two years to a contract due to expire in the summer. Lauren joined the Gunners from RCD Mallorca in 2000 for a fee in excess of €10m.

Edu ultimatum
Arsenal also confirmed new deals for two of their young prospects, 20-year-old right-back Justin Hoyte and 18-year-old Swiss youth international Johan Djourou, who have agreed two-year extensions to their deals. However, Brazilian midfielder Edu, whose contract expires this summer, has been told by manager Arsène Wenger that he "must decide by the end of this week" whether he is going to pen a new deal or not. Edu has not played since suffering a broken toe in November.