‘Hopefully we can do it’ – Mikel Arteta on new Saliba and Saka contracts | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says he hopes a new contract for William Saliba will be confirmed by the club soon.

The Frenchman is set to put pen to paper on a new long-term deal with the Gunners, having joined the club back in 2019.

“Hopefully it will be everybody in the world, Arsenal included, [reporting it] very soon and that’s what I’m hoping but let’s leave the club to announce that when it’s all done,” Arteta said.

After several loan spells, Saliba has since gone on to play 139 times for the club in all competitions, forming a solid partnership at the back with team-mate Gabriel.

“He certainly is and he’s been instrumental in everything we’ve done in the last few years,” he said.

“It’s great to see a lot of players willing and so driven to come into the club. That means that they are happy, they feel valued and they see that this is the best opportunity for them to continue their careers and fulfil the ambition of the club.

“It’s very impressive what he’s done at his age because sometimes we tend to forget. But his consistency, I think, the way he’s progressed, I think the way he’s matured as well as a person and his role in the team has grown year after year.

“I think he’s built a partnership with Gabi especially but with the back line and the keeper that has given the best defensive record in the last three years I think, and he’s been pivotal to that.”

Saliba has been linked with a move to Real Madrid but Arteta says the defender has always spoken of his commitment to the club.

“In general, I don’t want to be specific, but it was obviously the amount of noise that was around certain clubs, we don’t have to name many teams, but there are not that many that can come and get William out of Arsenal,” he said.

“So it was clear and again he was so transparent and honest from the beginning.”

Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, has two years left on his deal and Arteta is also confident he will extend his stay with his boyhood club.

“I would love that, from everything that I know he’s a player that is extremely happy and proud to be and to have the role that he has at the football club,” he said.

“Things will develop in the natural way like they always do and we know, everybody knows how important Bukayo is for us, so hopefully we can do it.”