Matthew Connolly penned a three-and-a-half year deal with the R's in January 2008.

The 20 year-old defender, who spent the first part of the 2007/08 season on loan at Championship rivals Colchester United, is a product of the successful Arsenal academy.

After working his way through the academy system at the North London Club, Connolly was named as captain of the Gunners' Reserve side in September 2006, before he was handed his First Team debut against West Bromwich Albion in the Carling Cup a month later.

He enjoyed a short spell on loan at Bournemouth last season, before returning to the Emirates Stadium in January and featuring against Liverpool in the Carling Cup, quarter-final.

After impressing whilst on loan at Layer Road this season, Connolly received his first call up to Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 squad in November.