William Saliba’s form warrants godfather contract offer from Arsenal

William Saliba produced an imperious display against Tottenham in the North London derby as the Frenchman continues to push his case for being the best central defender in the Premier League.

It was built up as Saliba’s biggest test, going up against Harry Kane. Kane is one of the best strikers in world football, regardless of what people think about him.

On Saturday, Saliba was tasked with trying to curtail the Englishman, which it did to aplomb. While Kane scored (as he always does against Arsenal), Saliba was a rock at the back.

He stopped numerous counterattacks, was calm with the ball at his feet, and looked like, at times, he was playing backyard football. He was a monster.

There has been talk of a new contract for the 21-year-old, and with each performance, he adds another zero to his weekly wage. Saliba is said to be in “no rush” to sign a new deal, and with the potential to star at the World Cup for France, the defender’s value will only continue to skyrocket.

The handing out of big-money contracts has come back to bite Arsenal in the past. Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contracts spring to mind, but in Saliba’s case, the club must give the player whatever he wants. This is a defender that’s still years away from his prime.

Mikel Arteta needs to move heaven and Earth and then some to secure the future of the France international. He deserves it. Massive wages, all the extras a player can think of, give it to him.

There may be some hesitancy with offering the world to a player who is still so young, but we have all seen enough in the opening eight games to conclude that Saliba warrants a godfather offer from the Gunners.

I could be in the minority here, but William Saliba is making a case to be the best central defender in the Premier League. Not in six months or twelve months, but right now.

There is also a case to be made that he could be the best defender in the world shortly. Immense praise, yes. Too early for that kind of statement? Absolutely not.

For some, a long-term deal for Saliba is almost taking precedence over Bukayo Saka’s contract. Such has been the defender’s form that he probably warrants it. While fans will want the club to secure the futures of both sooner rather than later, there has been a shift to get Saliba’s done first.

The 21-year-old still has two years remaining on his current contract with the Gunners, so it is not time-sensitive, but with each passing week, his form improves, and it will only cost Arsenal more. But that’s fine.

The club has done remarkably well to trim its wage budget after a series of poor judgements regarding player contracts but now is not the time to nickel and dime. Do whatever it takes to get the deal done.

At just 21 years old, William Saliba is perhaps Arsenal’s best player, and with the big clubs circling, the time is now to give him a deal that he cannot refuse. If it breaks the wage structure, so be it.

That is what you do for a generational talent. The decision to loan him out for consecutive years is looking pretty good right now, huh?