Good morning everyone, some quick snippets from Wednesday for you.
Mikel Arteta will meet the press later today before our Europa League game with PSV tomorrow night. We may get some news from the team, but most likely they will tell us that players who might have concerns will be tested. We’ll have all the exciting updates on Arseblog News, and tomorrow we’ll preview the game properly on the blog.
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In The Athletic yesterday (£), James clarified the contract situations of three players whose deals have been the subject of some speculation. Bukayo Saka and William Saliba run until 2024, Gabriel Martinelli has a deal that includes an option to extend it to 2026. There were some reports that the club had options on the top two to take them past that 2024 mark, but that point is the renewal marker for Saliba and Saka.
Realistically, next summer, June 2023, is another key date, because if we haven’t reached any agreement with them by then, we’ll have to consider the nasty option. However, I am 98% sure that Saka will sign. Right now he’s not making anything close to what he should be based on his input and importance to the team, given that he signed an extension in 2020 at a time when he was making his way. Even if there were raises built in throughout the length of the deal, the way his career has developed since then means he’s more than earned new terms.
The only thing that gives me a little pause is that he shares the same agent as Eddie Nketiah and Flo Balogun. The former signed a new deal, and a very lucrative one too, with only a few weeks left on his deal and with much speculation that he would leave on a free transfer. Balogun was certainly within the last 6 months of his contract when he signed, so it’s not unusual to push him to the limit. That said, I think his situations were very different from Saka’s.
Eddie wanted assurances about his role on the team; Balogun was a young player with potential who hadn’t made any real progress as a first-team player. Saka is already the real deal. He is crucial for the team, and securing his future will clearly be a priority for the club. The player is in a strong position because of how good he is rather than how long he has left on his contract, and the fact that Arsenal are also good at the moment should make this less of a hassle than it could have been.
That feeling of going places like a club could also be decisive for Saliba. We know there have been some bumps in the road since his arrival, and a couple of weeks ago I wrote about the strong position he is in when it comes to his contract. I would only hope that the fact that he plays regularly has created a real connection with the fans, and on a team that is fun and exciting, plays a big role in deciding him.
I am absolutely sure that we will fight offers from other clubs, those secondary briefings that they offer to the world if a player ends his contract and goes free, but like Saka, I think there is a short-term consideration when it comes to of your salary. Surely he is also underpaid for how important he has become, and if he continues his trajectory, the ‘big’ clubs will always be interested. However, as a 21-year-old, a few more seasons in the Premier League at a club that suits him would probably be the best decision if you’re really trying to build a career.
However, as I said, his hand is very strong, and that is something Arsenal have to live with. If I had to put a percentage on it, it would go a little over 50%. Like 50.00002%. Kidding, I’d say around 60%, but fingers crossed.
As for Martinelli, I think the Brazilian factor at Arsenal right now is a very positive aspect of his renewal. We have a lot of other Gabriels, Edu’s steakhouse will always be around the corner, and I really think he likes being in the club. Percentage: 91%.
Yesterday I mentioned that this break from the World Cup gives clubs the opportunity to think more about the January transfer market. The same could be true for contract renewals, even if some of the players will be out. Time will tell!
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Finally, for today, an update on Lana, the younger of Arseblog’s two German Shepherds. Yesterday, 6 weeks ago, she had a total hip replacement, and she has spent those weeks confined almost entirely to a box and a few trips to the garden with a strap and sling to protect the new hip. Having been cleared by the vets, he is now allowed out of his sling to move around the garden, and although the exercise needs to be gradually increased and his leg is still quite weak, he is doing very well, as the picture below shows. .
Thanks to everyone who has been in touch about it! Well, that’s all for this morning, have a good time.
