Darren Bent has told talkSPORT that he fears Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe will eye transfers away from the Emirates Stadium if Arsenal cannot match their own ambitions.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker doubts the Gunners will be able to fend off any big offers for the Hale End graduates, if they are continually mired in the middle of the Premier League standings. Arsenal ended last season 11th, after back-to-back eight-place finishes.
Mikel Arteta will also hope to guide Arsenal back into the top-half of the table on Monday against Crystal Palace. The north Londoners entered the international break 11th in the standings after three wins in their opening seven games.
Saka and Smith Rowe to follow for Arsenal stars?
Saka and Smith Rowe played crucial roles in Arsenal’s last Premier League win when they beat Tottenham 3-1. Both got on the scoresheet, with Saka also assisting Smith Rowe, who additionally fed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the opening 34-minutes.
The Hale Enders will have a big say in the Gunners’ future, if they stay in the capital. Which Bent is not entirely sure is guaranteed, as Arsenal must show Saka and Smith Rowe why they do not need to eye transfers away to compete at the top of the Premier League.
“It’s a decision to make,” Bent pondered. “But also, Arsenal’s ambition has to match their own. There’s no point in Arsenal [being] eighth, seventh every season. At some stage, you’re going to have to make a run for it.
“I’m guessing if the likes of Newcastle and the other big clubs, the Liverpools, the Chelseas, are constantly up there and they come in for a bid? It’s a little bit like the [Robin] van Persie situation. We’ve seen it with [Cesc] Fabregas, as well.
“We’ve seen these guys up to leave because, for Van Persie, they had a really good team there, but couldn’t get over the line. He said, ‘well enough’s, enough’, and went to United and won the league. So, I guess, if their ambition matches their own, they’ll be happy to stay. If it doesn’t, then you fear.”
Should Arteta worry about losing his young stars?
Arsenal moved to tie Saka and Smith Rowe down to long-term contracts recently, but may share Bent’s fears over transfers. The Gunners’ young stars have shown they can compete at the top, and are unlikely to settle for anything less.
If big offers do come in from continually high-ranking sides for either in coming years, they may look to leave. Arsenal, then, may have to reward the pair with even greater terms to ward off any potential transfer interest.
Additionally, the four-year contract Saka signed with Arsenal last year is only worth £30k-a-week. Far less than the likes of Alexandre Lacazette (£182k-a-/w) and Nicolas Pepe (£140k-a/w), per Spotrac. While Smith Rowe penned a new five-year deal this July, showing both see bright futures at Arsenal. Now, Arteta must deliver that to ensure they are a part of it.
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