27 May 2023 , 08:28
713
0
Arsenal have finally tied Bukayo Saka down to a new long-term contract - but the Gunners had to make a significant compromise in order to seal a deal.
Saka, 21, has evolved into the club's most influential player during Mikel Arteta 's premiership, so resolving the versatile forward's future was a huge priority for Arsenal.
Despite rumoured interest from several of the Gunners elite domestic rivals, including Manchester City, Saka put pen-to-paper on a bumper four-year deal earlier this month. However, it has emerged that the Gunners were initially hoping to tie Saka down for a longer period of time before they were forced to change tact during negotiations.
According to The Mail, Arsenal knocked back requests for a release clause during private talks with Saka's representatives. Instead of agreeing to such terms, the club instead compromised by agreeing to a far shorter deal than many expected.
A four-year deal will give Saka the opportunity to keep his options open should he wish to move on from the Emirates in four years' time, while Arsenal get to protect the value of their star asset and, hopefully, retain his services for a sustained period.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
News of Saka's new contract came as a major boost for Arsenal, who had seen their title hopes extinguished for good just a few days before the deal was officially announced.
And although the Gunners were unable to end their agonising 19-year title drought, they will end a six-year exile from the Champions League after clinching a second placed finish.
Join the debate! Do you think Saka will still be at Arsenal until the summer of 2027? Let us know here.
Arsenal were reluctant to agree to a release clause during contract negotiations with Bukayo Saka (Clive Mason/Getty)Arsenal are assured of a significant financial windfall just from qualifying for the Champions League. But Saka touched on how important it was to have elite European football back at the Emirates after such a long absence - and how it underlines the significant progress the club have made under the stewardship of Arteta.
Speaking after his new contract had been confirmed, Saka said: “I have seen a lot of change. I’ve seen this team and the club grow, and one thing that everyone around us can be excited about is that we are going in the right direction.
“Time is on our side. You can look at our team and a lot of the players are young. We’re hungry, and a lot of us haven’t won trophies at Arsenal so we want to achieve big things. If you watch the way we all speak, we want to win and we want to win here.
“It’s been too long since this club has had Champions League football. I’m really looking forward to Tuesday and Wednesday nights in this stadium, the atmosphere is going to be special.”