Arteta Confirms Saka and Saliba's Commitment to Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are eager to be significant contributors to Arsenal's future as discussions regarding new contracts for both players progress.
Both Saka and Saliba, who are 24 years old, are currently in the final two years of their contracts, which are set to expire in 2027.
Defender Saliba expressed optimism about signing a new deal with Arsenal during the club's pre-season tour in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Arsenal is actively working to secure the futures of their key players, with Saliba's defensive partner recently signing a contract extension until 2029, alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, who have also committed to long-term deals.
While Saliba has previously been linked to Real Madrid, he has stated that such speculation does not occupy his thoughts. Meanwhile, winger Saka has expressed his desire to achieve success while representing Arsenal.
Before Arsenal's match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, manager Arteta emphasized that efforts to secure the players' futures remain ongoing, despite the busy transfer window, with sporting director Andrea Berta taking the lead in negotiations.
"That never stops," Arteta remarked. "The collaboration around the club, with what Andrea is doing alongside the agents, is very effective. The encouraging aspect is that the players want to stay here and be a significant part of the club's history in the coming years. Andrea will drive that forward, and we will see how it unfolds."
Unfortunately, Saka will miss tomorrow's match due to a hamstring injury, while Saliba, who is dealing with an ankle issue, participated in today's training session.
This summer, the Gunners have invested approximately £300 million as they aim to secure their first trophy since 2020.
With the transfer window now closed, this week marks the first time Arteta will have all his players available at the training ground, including new signing Piero Hincapie. Arteta expressed satisfaction, stating that the squad now has "clarity".
Arsenal will face Nottingham Forest at home on Saturday, marking Ange Postecoglou's debut as the new manager of the visiting team. The former Tottenham Hotspur manager has yet to achieve a victory against Arteta, having lost their last three encounters. However, Arteta is anticipating a challenging match.
"With Ange, his greatest strength is evident in the way he has shaped the team," Arteta noted. "He has a very clear style of play and a distinct identity. It’s extremely enjoyable to watch, and there is much to learn from him. It will be a very difficult game."