New Saka deal the best summer business Arsenal can do

Bukayo Saka is to be offered a new Arsenal, one that will mean that attacker spends the next portion of his career at the Emirates Stadium and, crucially, his club have a strong foundation to build from in years to come.

With a deal that expires in 2024, there had been fears that the 20-year-old attacker would start to become vulnerable to transfer approaches from this summer.

Saka is clearly one of Arsenal’s greatest assets, having scored six and set up four more in the Premier League already this season. Only Emile Smith Rowe has scored more than the England international’s seven goals in all competitions, while only Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe have more than his five assists.

Arteta, meanwhile, has confirmed that Saka that discussions are planned.

“It is a conversation we are going to have with the player, then his agent, his family — [talks] which are going to be extremely important as well — so everybody is on board,” he said after Thursday’s 1-0 win at Wolves, which moved the Gunners to fifth in the standings.

The new deal will reflect Saka’s dramatically elevated status since signing his last deal in 2020.

Perhaps the most important thing that such a contract extension will do is send out positive messages about the Arsenal project. If such a prodigious young player is willing to commit his future to the club, it says that their plans are on track.

Saka's incredible potential

Saka, meanwhile, does not just pass the eye test. Statistically he is also one of the Gunners’ outstanding players this season.

According to data analytics company SciSports, he is presently the club’s second best player but crucially has the potential to become a key player for any club in the world. Indeed, it is suggested that there are only a handful of players anywhere in the world presently active who have the capacity to exceed him.

Arsenal, then, are shrewd for tying Saka down to a new deal so rapidly. If January was disappointing for them, this is the ideal news before the summer.