MX23RW : Tuesday, March 11 03:37:19| >> :120:18465:18465:

Mikel Arteta confident of new Bukayo Saka, William Saliba deals

Mikel Arteta confident of new Saka, Saliba deals
© Reuters
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is confident the North London club will be able to agree extensions with Bukayo Saka and William Saliba.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has claimed that he is confident the Gunners will agree contract extensions with Bukayo Saka and William Saliba.

The Gunners announced at the start of the month that Gabriel Martinelli had signed a new long-term contract with the club.

Martinelli is understood to have signed a £180,000-per-week deal until 2027, which is also said to include a 12-month extension option.

Having tied down the Brazilian to a new deal, Arsenal have now turned their focus to securing the long-term futures of Saka and Saliba.

Arsenal have already triggered options to extend the stays of both Saka and Saliba by an extra year, but the pair are still only contracted until June 2024.

William Saliba warms up for Arsenal in November 2022© Reuters

Although the duo have less than 18 months remaining on their current deals, Arteta is confident that ongoing negotiations will be successful.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's home meeting with Brentford, the Arsenal boss was asked whether the extensions for Saka and Saliba would take of themselves.

"Yeah, they will do," he replied. "In the same way we dealt with Gabi [Martinelli], we will deal with the rest.

"Things need time sometimes but we are delighted with the news of Gabi obviously."

Saliba joined the Gunners from Saint-Etienne in 2019, and he immediately returned to the French club on a season-long loan deal.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured in February 2023© Reuters

The defender also spent time on loan with Nice and Marseille, before he made his long-awaited debut for Arsenal at the start of the current campaign.

Saliba, who has started all 20 of Arsenal's Premier League games this season, has established a formidable central defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, helping the club establish a five-point lead at the top of the table.

Saka, meanwhile, rose through the academy ranks at Arsenal, where he has become one of the key players in Arteta's side.

The England international has provided seven assists this season - more than any of his teammates - and he has also registered eight goals in his 28 competitive appearances this term.

ID:506472:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3992:
Written by
Ben Sully

Click here for more stories about Mikel Arteta

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring for Arsenal on January 22, 2023
Read Next:
Arsenal receive 10 nominations at London Football Awards
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!