Arsenal are poised to open new contract talks with in-form midfielder Alexander Hleb.

The Belarusian has two-and-a-half years left on his current deal but the Gunners are keen for him to commit his long-term future to the club.

Hleb, 26, who moved to north London in 2005 from VfB Stuttgart in a £10million deal, has been one of Arsenal's star performers in their unbeaten start to the season and his agent Uli Ferber told Standard Sport today that his client loves being part of the club's vibrant young team.

"Alex is very comfortable at Arsenal. If you play in a great team like that and for a manager like Arsene Wenger, and when you have the opportunity to play with so much fun and to win titles, you can imagine that Alex would want to stay at that place for a long time," said Ferber.

Meanwhile, Wenger will not ask Jens Lehmann to play in goal in tomorrow night's Carling Cup last-16 tie against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane with Poland's Lukasz Fabianski making his second appearance.

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