Bukayo Saka signing his new contract is a bold statement of intent from Arsenal as they look towards a bright future.
Arsenal supporters have been waiting for too long to hear the words about the new contract for Bukayo Saka. The media has constantly tried to sabotage the winger’s stay with constant links to Manchester City or Liverpool. But the 21-year-old is here to stay.
Saka signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal until 2027, which makes him one of the top earners at the club. As per reports, the 21-year-old will earn £200,000 per week, with the wages rising to £300,000 per week, including bonuses.
Together ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DbmqHWJGBw
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 23, 2023
So when Saka earns those bonuses, it would mean a good result for Arsenal, which the supporters hope happens weekly. Regarding the structure of the deal, it is a smart move from the Gunners. But with the duration of the contract, Saka’s agent should get full marks.
Considering it is only a four-year contract and Saka continues on this trajectory, Arsenal will likely sit on the table again in two years. They will hope the outcome will be the same in the future, which will depend on multiple factors. Likewise, it is a smart deal from his agent and commendable.
Unlike the old days, football has become a game of small margins, and every window of opportunity, no matter how small, has to be embraced. Arsenal have done precisely that and secured possibly the best winger in the league for their best period in recent times.
The Saka extension certainly brings joy to the supporters, but it will have a greater effect on the team as a whole. There are many questions, plenty of answers and a big dream that Arteta manifests. With sheer luck and hard work, Arsenal can achieve it, especially with Saka by their side.
Saka extension, a bold statement of intent
Gone are those days when Cesc Fabregas professed his undying wish to return to Barcelona, which caused Arsenal fans many sleepless nights. Or, the non-commital nature of Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie, who eventually left for greener pastures when they got into a position of power.
Arsenal’s ‘long-term’ contract renewals this season:
Gabriel Magalhães
Gabriel Martinelli
Aaron Ramsdale
Bukayo SakaLocking down the future. 🔒 pic.twitter.com/8y1pHJk7u5
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) May 24, 2023
In truth, Arsenal fans were not concerned about Saka. They truly believed Arteta had created an environment conducive to accelerating the talents of current players, and Saka was ‘expected’ to pen that new contract. His signature on the dotted line only cements their belief that they have a team challenging for honours in the future, the immediate one.
Since the beginning of the season, especially with this group performing so well, Arsenal had a clear plan to secure the future of their three 21-year-olds, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli and Saka. They have managed two, with the Frenchman yet to pen new terms, although that’s the one making the supporters a bit anxious.
Even without it, Arsenal have managed to bring in some quite exceptional talents and secure the futures of two more players, Gabriel Magalhaes and Aaron Ramsdale. Next up, it will be Martin Odegaard and Ben White, who, together with Saliba’s extension, could allow Arsenal to announce themselves as a bonafide heavyweight in the mix.
After losing out in the title race, they surely did not ‘bottle’ it, considering how young this squad is and their relative lack of experience. But, the Saka news will come as a boost and improve the mood at the Emirates on Sunday, where the players and staff will get the respect they deserve from the home fans.
For Arteta, Saka and others give him a platform to further build this side into a championship contender for next season. Irrespective of what other clubs spend on, Arsenal may not worry so long as they have a solid foundation to work with and Edu Gaspar works his magic to bring in star names like Declan Rice.
With God’s Child arrival, Arsenal have risen!
Saka tends to use #GodsChild in most posts, and there has to be some relevance to that. From starboy to God’s Child, the 21-year-old has endeared himself to the fans not only for Arsenal but beyond. He is a strong kid who has seen his stature rise, all due to his hard work and determination.
💬 "This is the right club, the right place to make the next step. It’s a beautiful club – look where we are.”
🗣 Bukayo chats Wrighty through committing his future to us 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 24, 2023
Arsenal fans have always been grateful to Unai Emery for handing Saka and Emile Smith Rowe their senior debuts. When the 21-year-old smashed that goal in the 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and provided two assists, many knew they had a star on their hands.
He has steadily grown into prominence both for Arsenal and England. While many had previously debated whether he should start ahead of more established international colleagues, not a single soul utters anything about dropping Saka now.
Missing that crucial spot-kick at the Euro 2020 final may have had a counter-productive effect on the 21-year-old. But Saka rose from the ashes and has since become one of the top talents. He is humble, respectful and talented to the extent rival fans are petrified of his presence on the pitch.
The fact that he waited until the end of the season to finalise an extension shows Saka is a player of great ambition. Had Arsenal finished outside of the top four, would he have signed this contract considering his position of power?
Probably not, but Saka signing on the dotted line shows he can see Arteta’s vision and wants to experience winning things with Arsenal. For now, Arsenal fans need to rejoice and remain excited for what the future holds because Saka has the potential to make them one of the best teams around.
Arsenal will conclude the power shift soon
Money has been splashed so much in the last two decades that it may end up losing its absolute value to become the reason players get attracted to a certain club. Arsenal suffered at the behest of the state-owned oil money clubs, which is the biggest reason for their downfall.
🗣️| Mikel Arteta on looking ahead:
“I think we are in a moment of our journey where we have built a lot. We have a great foundation and we have become really competitive, but now I think it is time to press the reset button, and go again.
“We have to be faster, more… pic.twitter.com/U2rR7dWLfP
— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) May 24, 2023
First, it was Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho making it personal with Arsene Wenger. Then it was Manchester City, who immediately plucked some of the experience and talent out of Arsenal, while Manchester United also got on in the act by capturing Robin van Persie.
The buck had to stop at some point, and it took a while for that to happen. Since Alexis Sanchez departed for Manchester United, Arsenal have not particularly sold a player they need to a rival. Olivier Giroud was different, and now they are in the safe hands of Mikel Arteta and Edu, who intend to take the club to a glorious place.
Convincing young, inexperienced players to join the club is one thing, and building a project around them and ensuring their longevity is another. Arsenal have done both and may go wild in the transfer market to make their ideas work.
Edu plans to sign players like Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, and they are more tactical signings that freshen up a zone that may have been ageing. The Saka and Martinelli extensions show this is a serious club manoeuvring through a massive power shift in London.
Arsenal would soon want to challenge unequivocally for the top prize domestically and in continental football. With the path they have embarked on, success will come as a by-product of their hard work and determination. Recent times have shown money is not the route to absolute success, but building a project with the right mix of funds certainly is.
The Saka signing is the beginning of a glorious period for Arsenal, and it is time for Arteta & co. to revamp and then attack again for the top prize. If they wrap up Saliba’s extension in the next phase and bring the right players, the Gunners are in play to conclude the absolute power shift.
