Arteta ‘hopeful’ Saka will follow Saliba and sign new Arsenal deal

According to David Ornstein, Arsenal defender William Saliba has agreed to a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2030, effectively ending interest from Real Madrid and securing his role as a key player in Mikel Arteta's project.

When asked about the news, manager Mikel Arteta expressed hope that an official announcement would be made soon by the club, indicating his anticipation for the deal to be finalized.

Arteta highlighted Saliba's instrumental importance to the team's recent achievements, stating that the player's willingness to commit reflects his happiness and the club's ability to fulfill ambitions, which attracts driven players.

The manager praised Saliba's impressive progress, consistency, and maturity at a young age, noting his growing role in the team and his pivotal defensive partnership, particularly with Gabriel, which has contributed to Arsenal's best defensive record in recent years.

Regarding Bukayo Saka, whose current contract expires in 2027, Arteta clarified that he would love for Saka to sign a new deal, emphasizing Saka's happiness and crucial importance to the club, and expressing optimism that matters would develop naturally.