William Saliba has dropped a hint that the defender could soon sign a new contract with Arsenal, with the centre-back having just two years remaining on his current deal.
Speaking to the Athletic, the 21-year-old star hinted that talks have begun over signing a new contract, with Arsenal keen to keep Saliba at the club for the foreseeable future after a sensational start to life in the Premier League with the north London club.
The France international signed for Arsenal in 2019 but has had to wait until this season to finally become a member of the Gunners’ first-team squad. Saliba spent three different loan spells out in his homeland before returning to England this summer and completely changing Mikel Arteta’s defensive shape.
Pairing Gabriel Magalhaes in central defence, Saliba’s performances and impact in the backline has been nothing short of incredible, with the youngster arguably the best centre-back in the Premier League this season and a talent who could star for Arsenal for many years to come.
Indeed, Saliba’s future has, of course, now become a major talking point for many Arsenal fans, yet the defender’s latest hint that talks are now underway over signing a new contract could be something that will excite supporters about the 21-year-old’s future at the club.
Saliba said when asked about signing a new contract: “We will see. They talk a little bit. We will see. I wait a long time for my first north London derby. I enjoyed it since the first minute to the end, and I am so happy. It’s a derby, a big game, where all the fans and the players want to win. I like to play big games like this.”
Saliba signing a new Arsenal contract would be one of Arteta’s best moves yet
Arteta’s record of keeping key Arsenal players to sign new contracts has been impressive, to say the least. From Bukayo Saka to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Eddie Nketiah, the 40-year-old coach has been quite the negotiator at convincing star names to commit to the Gunners, and Saliba must be next on the agenda.
Whilst the aforementioned Saka is another player who should soon be in line for a new contract, Saliba is arguably more important than the England international given his immense start to the new season, with the defender a talent who only comes around once in a generation for a club like Arsenal.
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