Arsenal prepare essential new contract for Hale End star

If there was anything to garner from the January transfer window for Arsenal it was that the long-term future of the club remains most important.

Allowing six members of the senior squad to depart without any reinforcements being brought acted as a (un)timely reminder that this rebuild is still underway. Last summer was extensive but far from the end of the business.

Those who are part of the new era of this football club will be the ones who hopefully reinstate Arsenal as a force in Europe and the Premier League.

Leading the way, is Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal prepare essential new contract for Hale End star Bukayo Saka while Mikel Arteta is also set for extension on his deal ending in 2023

Ridding the club of players on contracts far beyond their worth, shifting the deadwood and consolidating the culture is one part, with tying down your most prized assets being another.

Under contract until 2024, football.london report that a new deal is in the offing for the summer to extend Saka’s stay in north London, on a contract that will reflect his undeniable importance to the team. Saka currently earns in the region of £30k-per-week. Pay him whatever he wants.

Does he need a desert island? Probably not, but give him one anyway. Does he want a lifetime supply of inflatable unicorns? Probably not, but give him them anyway.

Indeed, a blank cheque where he can write whatever figure he wants on. Arsenal have taken close to £500k off the weekly wage bill over this window and the end goal is to no longer hand out exorbitant salaries to players not even close to deserving them. Saka deserves whatever his heart desires.

He is the future, and the present, of this team. There are exciting youngsters all across the squad but none have shown such startling maturity or quality over the length of time he has. Saka is a special, unique talent and the longer he stays at Arsenal the more chance this club has of being successful. It is as simple as that.

Arsenal are so lucky to have him, which is why he has to be tied down. No piece of business will be more important. Is there any chance he wouldn’t sign it? That’s not an eventuality we allow to cross our minds.

And, when he’s signed up, get Gabriel Martinelli on a new one even if he’s tied down to 2025.

Also mentioned in the report, and rumoured for some time, is that Mikel Arteta is due to a new contract extension. His situation is less headline grabbing, merely due to there being so little chance of him departing after the numerous shows of faith in him and him currently leading this rebuild.

His deal expires in 2023 and, barring Arsenal missing out on the top six, it’s difficult to imagine that the hierarchy will ever see reason to part ways with him. Should he miss out on Europe again, or end up in the Europa Conference League, then there is a serious conversation to be had.

Until then, he’s staying put.