Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are “doing everything we possibly can” to tie William Saliba down to a new contract.
Saliba’s current deal is due to run out in the summer of 2024, meaning he will have just one year left on his contract at the end of this current season.
The centre-back has excelled for Arsenal this season and Arteta says the club “want to reward him”. Talks are ongoing, with Arteta highlighting timing as a key factor in getting terms agreed with the 22-year-old.
Asked on Friday if there was any update, Arteta responded: “No.
“We want to keep our best talent. Especially the players that deserve some recognition.
“I think he has been incredible since he came back from his loan period and we want to reward him, that is for sure. We will find the right moment to do that.
“Obviously Edu and the board are on top of every negotiation regarding new contracts and now we are doing everything we possibly can to do that in the right moment at the right time.
“The communication and the relationship is super. It is about timing, I think. Nothing else.”
Arsenal have struggled without Saliba in the team. The Frenchman has been out of action since the middle of March after injuring his back. Since then, the Gunners have surrendered top spot in the Premier League and Manchester City are in control of the title race.
City are a point clear of Arsenal, who travel to Newcastle on Sunday, and Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand too.
St. James’ Park holds bad memories for Arsenal, as it was there last season where they lost in the penultimate game of the campaign and Tottenham pipped them to Champions League qualification on the final day.
Arteta was scathing in a remarkable foul-mouthed rant at his players in the dressing room after the 2-0 loss, which was captured by Amazon’s All or Nothing cameras.
A furious Arteta told the players to “shut your mouth and eat it”, as he lambasted their “f*****g unacceptable” performance.
And asked if it was the the angriest the players have seen him, Arteta said: “I don’t know. Maybe yes, maybe I’ve been angrier but I haven’t expressed it like that.
“Some days we can do that (get angry) when we win, depending on the performance! Every game is different.
“I haven’t seen the [All or Nothing] programme back, I have a few flashbacks of how it was and it was a difficult game and difficult day, that’s for sure.
“It’s about whether something hurts or not. I have moments in my professional career, as a player as well, that defeats that I had or I didn’t maximise what I could have done.
“They are still there and never go away. The feeling in those moments will stay with me forever. So the anger, or the passion or what you show in the moment is something, but it’s really what sticks inside.”
