Arsenal sensation Bukayo Saka has signed a new long-term contract with the club until 2027. The new contract is a big win for Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta because Saka’s previous term was set to expire at the conclusion of the next season. The 21-year-old has established himself as a crucial member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad since the 2021 European Championships and has been one of Arsenal’s top performers over the past two seasons. This season, Saka has contributed to 11 assists and 14 goals for Arsenal across all competitions. Saka also led the team in scoring with 11 goals the previous season. In addition to being nominated for Premier League Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season honors following an outstanding season for Arsenal, Saka has also committed his future to the club, joining Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Martinelli.
“Simply said, I’m quite delighted. It’s been a long and there has been a lot of talking, but I’m finally here. I believe that joining this group and moving further here is the appropriate decision. Look at this gorgeous club where we are!” Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka said. “For me, it’s about fulfilling my own goals; it’s about how hard I work and how much I expect of myself each game, week in and week out. When I’m at practice, my teammates, the coaching staff, and my family are all the appropriate individuals to have around me. I genuinely feel that we can do great things, so I’m pleased to be here and be here in the future. I believe I have everything I need to be the greatest player I can be.”
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, praised Saka’s compassionate nature and how he represents the team in the “best possible way” when the news of his new contract was revealed.
“First of all, congrats to him, and thanks to everyone at the club who worked to make that trade happen. Everyone invested a lot of time and effort into it, including his family and agency,” Arteta said. “With his contributions to the team, the club, and his character, he best represents our organisation and has earned this deal. We must now move one again. He is a pretty unique individual. He is adored by everyone here and is really likeable and humble. He genuinely takes the time to comprehend how people are feeling and what they need when he chats to them. He’s sincere; he doesn’t do it as part of his job. His greatest quality is his compassion for others.”
The days of Arsenal selling their top players are long gone. The signing of Saka’s new contract, along with those of Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Martinelli, shows that the Gunners have learned from the days when Manchester City and Barcelona would steal their best players. Despite the heartbreak of losing the Premier League championship to City, Arsenal’s season has demonstrated that the red part of London is a top location for developing young players like Saka. Arsenal has some of the Premier League’s brightest stars and is making them theirs for the long term, with Martin Odegaard and William Saliba reportedly the next players up for new contracts.
However, Saka’s next objective for Arsenal is to increase his competition. Reiss Nelson, who has barely been deployed for two hours of league football since mid-November, is Arteta’s next-best option on the right wing. Saka has started every Premier League game for Arsenal in the last two seasons, save for two, due to the right wing’s dependence on him. This has caused some tiredness in the prior two matchups. Saka failed to score or record an assist in the final 10 games of the previous campaign, and he has done the same in seven of his past eight league contests this year. The dry spell includes a missed penalty against West Ham last month, which Arteta has acknowledged in recent days was one of the key turning points in Arsenal’s title pursuit. The next stage is to provide him with more competition, more relaxation, and rotation time now that Arteta and Arsenal have secured one of their key players.
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