Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott has urged his old side to tie Bukayo Saka down to a new contract sooner rather than later.
The Hale End academy graduate won the club's player of the year award for his consistent performances during the 2020/21 campaign and is many fans' favourite to win the award again following an impressive season that saw him score 11 goals and provide a further seven assists in the Premier League. However, the talented winger has just over two years left on his current deal with the club and recent links to Manchester City and Liverpool have left some supporters worried about a potential summer departure.
Now, former Gunners winger Walcott has advised technical director Edu to get Saka's contract situation sorted out as soon as possible, claiming that he is hopeful that the 20-year-old will still be at the Emirates Stadium next term. "Well, there is obviously a transitional stage at Arsenal, that Mikel (Arteta) is part of, and Saka is massively part of it as well," Walcott told talkSPORT.
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"The younger crop of players at Arsenal coming through, I feel as though the club need to keep hold of him, simple as that. Obviously, when Manchester City coming knocking on the door, it is such a hard thing for any player really to turn down.
"He is very young, but I feel that he likes the area of London in Arsenal, the fans have been fantastic, and at the Emirates, which is one of the best stadiums I have ever played in. He has great support, and I will be intrigued.
"My heart says he will be at Arsenal next season, and we will see after that. He needs to understand that the playing opportunities will be limited at Manchester City.
"He will, of course, be more likely to win things, but it is not saying Arsenal won’t win things. I think they are in that phase, they are slowly starting to get there.
"They would have taken fifth at the start of the season, given how it went. I am hopeful he will be at Arsenal next season, I am pretty sure of that."
