Arsenal's stars have been urged to stay and grow together next season given they have the new challenge of Champions League football to contend with next term.
The Gunners look like they will fall just short of winning their first league title since 2004 this season, with a recent run of poor results handing momentum back to reigning champions Manchester City. However, Arsenal remain on course for a top two finish with Champions League qualification already secured, something the majority of the Emirates faithful would have taken before a ball had been kicked back in August.
Two players central to the effort this season are Bukayo Saka and William Saliba. At just 21 and 22 years old respectively, the duo have been two of the first names on Mikel Arteta's teamsheet this season and have proven their importance.
Yet for all the joy the pair have brought to the Arsenal side, neither have confirmed whether they will extend their stay and sign new contracts. Both Saliba and Saka were on contracts that were initially set to expire this coming summer, but Arsenal activated a clause in both deals that extends their stay until the summer of 2024.
While that buys the Gunners a bit more time, it presents the possibility that this summer marks the last realistic chance Arsenal have to cash in on their prized assets or risk losing them for nothing in return next year.
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Gunners legend Kanu has sent a pointed message and explained that with Arsenal back among the European elite, it is vital that their key players stay put and "grow together".
Speaking to bettors.ng, Kanu claimed: "Next season Arsenal will make their big comeback in the Champions League. They want to compete there and have a say in the game.
"If this team remains as a whole, with the addition of some experienced players, it will remain competitive and continue to grow. Stay together to grow together."
Discussing the wider group of young Arsenal stars, including the likes of Aaron Ramsdale and captain Martin Odegaard, Kanu added: "These are pure young and extremely talented players who identify fantastically with the club. All these players can make their mark on an era at Arsenal."
Saka's stock continues to rise week after week, with the England international sitting on 13 league goals and 11 assists thus far. In turn, that makes the Arsenal academy graduate the only player in the Premier League to have reached double figures in both metrics.
There were reports Saka had put pen to paper on a new deal around the same time Gabriel Martinelli's new contract was confirmed, but more than a month later there has still been no official announcement.
As for Saliba, the young Frenchman has impressed since finally being integrated into the Arsenal first-team and the Gunners have reaped the benefits.
His composure on the ball matched with supreme technical quality has helped transform the way Arsenal play out from the back and Saliba's absence has been sorely felt since he limped out of Europa League action in March with a back injury, with some feeling his spell on the sidelines has cost the Gunners the title.
