Arsenal now ‘very confident’ of convincing player to stay

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It’s been reported that Arsenal are now ‘very confident’ first-team player will stay in North London for the foreseeable future.

According to Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports, Arsenal are ‘very confident’ William Saliba will sign a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium. The Frenchman’s currently deal expires at the end of next season.

Although Arsenal are set to miss out on their first Premier League title in 19 years, it doesn’t take away the fact that Mikel Arteta’s side have enjoyed a very successful campaign and have exceeded all expectations this season.

William Saliba and Gabriel’s partnership at the back was a big reason why the Gunners were so defensively sound in the first half of the season before the World Cup. This was emphasised even more when the 22-year-old suffered an injury towards the end of March and hasn’t featured for Arsenal since.

Arsenal were top of the league at the time of William Saliba’s injury. With two games to go Manchester City have all but won the Premier League title again. There’s no denying the Frenchman’s injury was a big loss to Mikel Arteta’s team.

William Saliba joined the Gunners in 2019 on a five-year deal from French side Saint-Étienne and having established himself as a key player under Mikel Arteta this season, Arsenal are desperate to tie him down to a new long-term deal.

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Negotiations have been ongoing for months and Jacobs says that there is growing confidence that he will sign a new deal at the club after an impressive campaign.

Ben Jacobs on William Saliba’s contract situation:

“If you look at the Saliba deal as its own entity, it’s another one that Arsenal are very confident they’ll get over the line.”

“That will be a reflection of the fact that Arsenal have a core and a foundation to build on, win or lose the Premier League, to be that team that automatically almost ends up with a Champions League spot, which is what they’re looking for, and tries to continue to challenge with Manchester City.”

“It’s easy to look at Arsenal’s season as one of doom and gloom because they’ve wobbled at the wrong time, and it might cost them the Premier League. But if they end second with Champions League football and get all these renewals done, from a foundational and project point of view, they’ll be delighted even though the league position may not be what they wanted.”

It’s also been previously reported that William Saliba is happy in North London and wants to commit his long-term future with the club, especially after the progress Mikel Arteta’s side have made this season, even without the Premier League trophy to show for it.

With the club desperate to keep the player, and Saliba wanting to stay, it’s expected to be only a matter of time before the Frenchman puts pen to paper to stay at the Emirates Stadium.

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