3. Futureproofing
Alongside Saka, Arsenal have tied down Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Magalhães to new deals, and are reportedly in talks with William Saliba and Martin Odegaard.
These players are the spine of Arsenal’s project and some of the most consistent performers over the last two seasons, and will not only be crucial next season but also over the next decade.
While it is vital to retain the core to maintain the current level, it is also a big vote of confidence for the project when it comes to signing new players like Declan Rice, Ilkay Gundogan, Mason Mount, Moises Caicedo etc.
In previous years, Arsenal have lost key players by failing to extend at the right time, or by refusing/being unable to pay the desired wages. This isn’t a problem anymore, and it will show any new recruits that the club are serious contenders, who are ready to compete on and off the pitch with the biggest clubs on the planet.
pic.twitter.com/ngVKSlJ1UG
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1660994177608417280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 23, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>1. Wages</h2>
<p>Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail reported last month that Bukayo Saka’s new contract with Arsenal will see him earn almost £15m a season including bonuses and other payments, but his base wage would be £10m per season.</p>
<p>Most outlets have clung to the top-end figure, reporting that Saka will take home £290-300k per week. While he may do this some weeks, it will hinge on him hitting several performance-related clauses, as his base salary will be closer to £192k per week.</p>
<p>This number sounds astronomical, and it is, in real-world terms, however, the top end of his weekly wage puts him level with Kalidou Koulibaly, the 10th highest earner in the league, and few would argue that he sits outside the Premier League’s top 10 players.</p>
<p>For Arsenal, this is a whopping wage, but Saka has been the club’s best player for the last three seasons and has become the face of the new identity at the club; if they do not pay him the wage to go with his status, there will be ten other clubs queuing up to do so.</p>
<p><a title="Bukayo Saka explains why he extended Arsenal contract" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/bukayo-saka-explains-why-he-extended-arsenal-contract/" rel="">Arsenal are dealing with a superstar</a>, and fans need to embrace it, not complain about the cost.</p>
<p><em>Continued to next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 Length </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Four more years of Bukayo Saka at <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arsenal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#Arsenal</a>. Just like with his last deal, his agent has been very clever; we’ll need to start negotiations again in two years time. By that point he could easily be the best player in the world in his position. He really is that good. ✍️ <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#AFC</a> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://t.co/Yw3Hibb70i">pic.twitter.com/Yw3Hibb70i
<p>— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://twitter.com/adamkeys_/status/1661000805410025472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 23, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>2. Length</h2>
<p>Like with the last deal Saka signed in 2020, this deal will run for four years, expiring in 2027, without an option for another year.</p>
<p>This is one area where fans have a right to be slightly disappointed, especially when you consider the fact that the club managed to secure the option of an extra year in Gabriel Martinelli’s extension earlier this year.</p>
<p>The deal means that Arsenal will be back at the negotiating table in two years as they try to tie Saka down further, which is incredibly clever from his agent, and ensures his earning potential is protected as his status and performance level grows.</p>
<p>For Arsenal, this will be a distraction in two years, but the positive is it will keep Saka happy and feeling valued at the club, and will show him that even though he is an academy product the club are willing to give him the superstar treatment he deserves.</p>
<p><em>Continued to next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 Futureproofing </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">💬 “This club has been a family to me since I was eight years old.”</p>
<p>Bukayo Saka: Through the years 🤩 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://t.co/vJRtkj0r7G">pic.twitter.com/vJRtkj0r7G
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1661017182611050502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 23, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>3. Futureproofing</h2>
<p>Alongside Saka, Arsenal have tied down Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Magalhães to new deals, and are reportedly in talks with William Saliba and Martin Odegaard.</p>
<p>These players are the spine of <a title="Why it’s time to question Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal project" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/22/time-to-question-mikel-artetas-arsenal-project/" rel="">Arsenal’s project</a> and some of the most consistent performers over the last two seasons, and will not only be crucial next season but also over the next decade.</p>
<p>While it is vital to retain the core to maintain the current level, it is also a big vote of confidence for the project when it comes to signing new players like Declan Rice, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/22/3-reasons-ilkay-gundogan-perfect-arsenal/">Ilkay Gundogan</a>, Mason Mount, Moises Caicedo etc.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="CTCyDzlWjg"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/22/arsenal-2023-summer-transfer-window-preview-incomings/">Arsenal 2023 summer transfer window preview: Incomings</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“Arsenal 2023 summer transfer window preview: Incomings” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/23/3-points-bukayo-saka-new-contract/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/05/22/arsenal-2023-summer-transfer-window-preview-incomings/embed/#?secret=7e9CowdG1p#?secret=CTCyDzlWjg" data-secret="CTCyDzlWjg" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>In previous years, Arsenal have lost key players by failing to extend at the right time, or by refusing/being unable to pay the desired wages. This isn’t a problem anymore, and it will show any new recruits that the club are serious contenders, who are ready to compete on and off the pitch with the biggest clubs on the planet.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
