Tomorrow. A quick Friday waffle for you.
Let’s start with some good news, because who doesn’t like a bit of good news to start their day? Regardless, Arsenal and Bukayo Saka are reported to have reached an agreement on a new long-term contract.
???? Arsenal have an agreement in principle on a new contract for Bukayo Saka. Long-term deal for the unsigned 21-year-old England international attacker + may take some time to complete but is now in place. Fantastic news for #AFC @TheAthleticFC after @SamiMokbel81_DM https://t.co/cCjpgD29Ut
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) February 23, 2023
It’s funny how the depth of football reporting these days means that everything feels like it’s being done in stages. The ‘agreement in principle’ is obviously good progress, but it’s still not a done deal. The thing is, that’s always how it happened, it’s just that the media landscape and how granular things are means that this part is public when in the past it might not have gone that far.
Which is not to complain, it’s just an observation. Objectively, this is fantastic news, because we all know how good Bukayo Saka is at 21 years old. How good it could be in a few years is a very exciting prospect, and to have those years in red and white in North London is brilliant for the club.
Saka is a Hale End lad, he came through the Academy all the way to the first team and has become one of our most important players. As such, you’d think it would be relatively simple to make the deal, but that kind of stature, at club and international level, makes it a bit trickier. He’s in a strong position to compare his salary to the best in the Premier League because… well… he’s one of the best in the Premier League.
I am sure that the negotiations have been tough. This is the same agent who landed Eddie Nketiah a great new contract after contributing for a much shorter time than Saka, but whatever we pay him and structure it however I’m not too worried. Consider the cost of finding a Saka replacement. How much would you have to pay? Then salaries and signing fees and agent fees on top of that? Phew.
Here’s the thing though: there are very few players like it, and the ones that do exist are out of our price range. We are absolutely blessed that a talent of this level has emerged from our Academy. There isn’t a club in the world that doesn’t want him on his team, and now it looks like his long-term future will be with us. That is something to celebrate.
As soon as it’s signed of course!
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On the other hand, the British government yesterday published its document which it calls “Bold plan to protect the long-term future of English football”. You can read it here.
This would give the game an independent regulator, as well as powers that include strengthening testing around ownership and directors; the ability to prevent clubs from joining breakaway competitions like the Super League; and give fans a greater say in important decisions regarding their clubs, such as stadiums, badges, name changes, kit colors, etc.
The FSA says:
We warmly welcome the Government’s historic commitment to introduce an independent regulator of English football.
The football governance white paper clearly addresses our key concerns about ownership, dishonest competitions and sustainability, and of course we support any proposal that gives fans a greater say in the running of their clubs.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how this plays out. There are clearly things to be welcomed in this, and it’s easy to forget the fury with which the whole Super League thing played out. Clubs and fans are intertwined in a way that clubs and owners rarely are, so giving the biggest people more of a voice or at least some protection should be seen as a positive.
However, some of it feels a bit like closing the barn door after the horse has run away. There are already questionable owners, with more laps. Are these tests retroactive or even ongoing? Because you might find a club looking for a similar investment to Newcastle or Man City and then be prevented from doing so, and then feel like you’re restricted when others had free rein. Which isn’t a defense of that type of ownership, far from it, but you have to wonder what the implications might be from a legal standpoint.
If you read the Premier League’s statement in response to this, you don’t have to read too far between the lines to understand that they would not be particularly welcome to an independent regulator. Given his wealth and power, and the fact that objections will come from club owners who will have spent billions to secure ‘their’ clubs, I don’t think this is easy.
They might argue that they have invested in businesses, like many other outside investors, so why should they be singled out for special oversight? And look, I think more scrutiny should be applied, not only to football but to all kinds of industry. Watch the shameless speculation by energy companies as prices rise and people can’t afford to heat their homes. It’s outrageous, your profits should be taxed ad infinitum because their deleterious influence on society is off the charts, but that’s how the market works unfortunately.
I’m also a bit doubtful that a government that has… how do you say this? …you haven’t exactly demonstrated your ability or willingness to do the right thing in extremely important matters for a very long time, you’re going to make something this specialized a success. Maybe it’s easier to run football than a health service, but if you can’t/won’t do the latter, why would anyone have any faith in you to do something about something that’s basically entertainment?
Anyway, let’s see what happens. I think this could go a long way.
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Ok, let’s leave it there. Mikel Arteta will meet the press this morning, and we’ll have coverage of that, as well as the draw for the Europa League round of 16, on Arseblog News throughout the day.
I leave you with a new Arsecast, chatting to the Evening Standard’s Simon Collings about Saka, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Europe and much more.
