Mikel Arteta is confident that Bukayo Saka will sign a new contract to extend his stay at Arsenal and backed him to “leave a legacy” at his boyhood club.
The winger, 24, signed his current terms, which run until 2027, back in May 2023. Since then the England international has continued to be a pivotal figure in Arsenal’s three successive title races, as well as being a standout performer in the Champions League – scoring 12 and assisting six goals in 21 appearances in the competition.
“I prefer that word, I think it is confidence,” the Arsenal manager said when asked if he was confident Saka would sign a new deal in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
“What Bukayo has transmitted to me and the club, and Emeka (Obasi, Saka’s agent) as well, is that they want to continue to be here. I think it’s a very healthy and powerful relationship.
“The journey that he has had at the club and what he has become is something we want to maintain. I think that is something that is going to leave a legacy at this football club and he needs to fulfill that role.”
Saka was part of the squad which won the FA Cup in 2019-20 and has been open about his ambition to lift major trophies with Arsenal.
Arteta added: “What I’m very aware of is that he wants to continue with us, that he’s very happy and that he’s in the place that he wants to continue to be and achieve everything that we want to achieve together.
“When that (a new contract) happens and how it happens, I leave that to Andrea [Berta] and the club to figure it out.”
Should he agree fresh terms, Saka would not be the first Arsenal player to sign a contract extension in recent months.
Teenagers, and fellow academy graduates, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri signed new deals until 2030 during the summer.
Defenders Gabriel and William Saliba entered the summer transfer window with deals running until 2027 like Saka but have signed extensions until 2029 and 2030 respectively.
Arteta also spoke publicly last month about Arsenal opening talks with Jurrien Timber, whose deal expires in 2028.
On making progress on contracts, Arteta added: “It’s been a very clear vision and route on how we want to do things.
“Ownership has been incredibly supportive and determined to make sure that we can continue the journey with these players and maintain the core of the team. That is the efficiency of everybody that works upstairs, starting with Andrea (Berta) and all the team to get things done because at the end there are always three parties and it’s never an easy thing to get done.”
Saka’s growing legacy
As well as being a reliable attacking threat, Saka’s ‘legacy’ has grown in other ways since he last signed fresh terms.
He has amassed 277 first team appearances for Arsenal, and has been part of the club’s leadership group since the start of last season.
The first signs of that new responsibility came when he took the captain’s armband while Martin Odegaard was out with an ankle injury between September and November 2024. With Arsenal’s captain having been sidelined multiple times already this season, Saka has continued to lead the side.
His progress last season was halted by a three-month hamstring injury, but the winger returned in time to help Arsenal beat Real Madrid in a two-legged quarter-final, scoring at the Bernabeu, to reach the Champions League last four.
Saka comes into this weekend’s north London derby in good form, scoring four goals in his last six games for club and country. Should Odegaard not be fit enough to start, this will also be the ninth time Saka has started a game as Arsenal’s captain in the 2025-26 campaign.
He is already a fan favourite, but particularly after his manager’s words, there is no better stage for Arsenal’s main man to return to than Spurs at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, November 23.
