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Longevity is the buzzword at Arsenal. Yes, they are enjoying the here and now after a run of seven wins in eight games that puts them at the top of the Premier League.
But they don’t pat themselves on the back; with their promising start comes the recognition that this is no time to congratulate themselves. Instead, there is acceptance that the club is at a time when they cannot afford to let it slip.
This young Arsenal team – one of the youngest in the top five of Europe’s divisions – seems to be on the brink of something special. Making sure it evolves, doesn’t fade, is a key motivation right now.
Arsenal have one of the youngest teams in European football and they need to secure young stars
Manager Mikel Arteta has given the Gunners a great start and it could be a long term project
The priority is to extend Bukayo Saka’s contract. There is confidence from Arsenal that a deal can be struck for the England international to extend for at least three or four years.
A contract, which would see Saka become one of the club’s highest paid players, has been formally offered but has yet to be signed. The offer would guarantee Saka nearly £200,000 a week – a huge sum for a 21-year-old. But there are a few things Saka should keep in mind before signing.
First, does he underestimate himself? Phil Foden recently signed a deal with Manchester City worth £225,000 a week.
Second, would he benefit from a contractual clause allowing a departure if Arsenal – how unlikely it seems now – were not to qualify for the Champions League? But why would Saka, purely from a footballing point of view, consider leaving? There is no more exciting team in England.
Saka’s personal investment in taking an executive box with the Emirates should serve as an encouragement that he is fully invested in life at Arsenal.
The club also sees the renewal of William Saliba’s contract as a priority.
The 21-year-old’s performance at the heart of Mikel Arteta’s defense has earned critical acclaim. Jamie Carragher was the last to tweet his appreciation during the France international’s brilliant display in Saturday’s win over Tottenham. You can also expect the wheels to start spinning in the not-too-distant future on an improved contract for Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian is quickly emerging as one of the key players in Arteta’s squad, his speed and directness playing a key role in the club’s excellent start.
There are plans to get a new long-term contract for their England player Bukayo Saka
Arsenal also consider extending William Saliba’s contract with the Gunners a priority
Other clubs are thought to love Gabriel Martinelli, but Arsenal should tie him up soon
Sportsmail understands that in recent months there have been admiring glances at Martinelli from Arsenal’s four biggest rivals – Chelsea is one of the clubs believed to be keeping an eye on the 21-year-old.
Getting the aforementioned trio to sign long-term deals with the Emirates is subject to several factors – no more than qualifying regularly for the Champions League. It seems inconceivable that Arsenal will not finish in the top four this season. The club plans to put a new central midfielder on its radar again in January.
Arteta takes Arsenal’s involvement in the Europa League seriously but expects the Spaniard to put key players to rest during the group stage of the tournament as he prioritizes the Premier League.
Players are also taking responsibility for fitness into their own hands, and some are said to have employed private trainers to make sure their bodies function at full capacity from week to week.
Arteta may choose to rest players for the Europa League as the Gunners focus on the competition
They are not alone. England captain Harry Kane, who scored his 100th Premier League goal against Arsenal on Saturday, will see Spanish sports medicine specialist Dr. Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco away from Tottenham.
Arteta and his players leave no stone unturned to ensure their Premier League challenge doesn’t fade. But if Arsenal somehow capitulate, you wonder how it could affect their efforts to secure the future of their best young players.
However, the leaders of this Arsenal team, such as Granit Xhaka, Gabriel Jesus and captain Martin Odegaard, will ensure that the team remains balanced when the water gets choppy. Xhaka, in particular, deserves credit for the way he turned his Arsenal career around after being vilified by his own supporters in 2019, an incident that ultimately led to his being stripped of his captaincy.
Granit Xhaka remains one of Arsenal’s most important players, even without a bracelet
But – bracelet or no bracelet – Xhaka remains one of Arsenal’s lieutenants. Ask many at the club’s training HQ and they will tell you that he is the captain of the club except in name.
On Saturday at halftime, the Swiss midfielder is said to have apologized for his role in what led to Tottenham being given a first-half penalty that sent Kane to equalize. Xhaka failed to clear the penalty area before Gabriel’s poor tackle on Richarlison forced referee Anthony Taylor’s hand.
Gabriel’s decision to go to the ground was misjudged, while Aaron Ramsdale’s decision to come running out before realizing he had to back off wreaked havoc on the defense. But the fact that Xhaka volunteered to take the bullets in the Arsenal dressing room speaks volumes for his character.
It bodes well for Arteta’s ‘trial’. Understandably, the Gunners boss will temper euphoria and expectations – his team host Liverpool on Sunday. Victory against Jürgen Klopp’s side and keeping an eye on it will be considerably more difficult.