MIKEL ARTETA is determined not to fall into the same trap Arsene Wenger once did at Arsenal.
Gunners boss Arteta made a statement of intent by agreeing a bumper new deal with Real Madrid target William Saliba yesterday.
Mikel Arteta has made a statement by getting William Saliba to sign a new Arsenal deal[/caption]
He is looking to avoid Arsene Wenger’s downfall after the Frenchman lost stars like Thierry Henry[/caption]
The France centre-back, 24, whose existing contract runs until 2027, is set to hand Arteta a major boost by pledging to stay until 2030.
The days of Arsenal losing their best players — such as Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry of the 2003-04 Invincibles team — to rivals at home and abroad look to be well and truly over.
In the last few years, Arteta and the club’s hierarchy have been laser-focused on building a squad capable of challenging for major silverware.
During Arteta’s six-year reign, Arsenal have spent over £1billion.
But there has also been a greater emphasis placed on committing current stars for the future. Martin Odegaard and Ben White have already extended their deals to 2028.
This summer, Gabriel, 27, signed up until 2029 while teen academy aces Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri are now contracted to 2030.
And Bukayo Saka, 24, is currently in talks with his £300k-a-week contract running out in two years’ time.
But Saliba’s impending signature showcases the immense pulling power that the Gunners possess.
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Arteta often claims: “Everyone wants to play for Arsenal now.”
To replace a world-class talent like Saliba in this insanely inflated market would be nigh on impossible.
Shearer’s Arteta verdict
ALAN SHEARER reckons Mikel Arteta must “win big” this season or face the consequences.
Arsenal boss Arteta has finished second in the Prem three years in a row and his side, who visit Newcastle on Sunday, trail leaders Liverpool by five points despite spending more than £240million this summer.
Shearer, Toon’s 206-goal top scorer, told Betfair: “They spent a fortune in the summer but that only adds pressure.
“They have to win big trophies and we know what happens if that doesn’t happen.”
While if he left, players would be questioning the club’s ambition.
That is exactly what happened under Wenger’s watch. Within three years of the Invincibles’ title, the squad had been brutally dismantled.
It was explained away as moving ageing stars on with a view to rebuilding — yet Cole was just 25, Vieira and Henry both 29.
But it came down to contractual disputes and disagreements over where the club was going with money tight ahead of their move from Highbury to the Emirates in 2006.
Arsenal quickly faded into mediocrity and Wenger never truly recovered.
Arsenal deal ‘em in
- Martin Odegaard — SIGNED — 2028
- Ethan Nwaneri — SIGNED — 2030
- Gabriel Magalhaes — SIGNED — 2029
- Myles Lews-Skelly — SIGNED — 2030
- Ben White — SIGNED — 2028
- William Saliba — SET TO SIGN — 2030
- Bukayo Saka — IN TALKS — TBC
Now they are the closest they have ever been to a first title since that historic 2004 campaign — and they cannot afford to make the same mistakes.
After three successive second-placed Prem finishes, no contract can now be left to run its course, no big name can be allowed to wonder if the grass may be greener elsewhere.
When club legend and 228-goal record scorer Henry reluctantly left for Barcelona in 2007, among his concerns were the number of top stars being let go with no sign they would be replaced by players anywhere near the same level.
That is no longer the case. Not only is Saliba encouraged by those around him staying put, but their aggressive approach in the market has delivered Arsenal and Arteta one of the strongest and deepest squads on the planet.
New sporting director Andrea Berta masterminded many of the contract renewals alongside the impressive recruitment strategy this summer that now gives them two world-class options in each position.
If Wenger had Berta by his side in the aftermath of the Invincibles, things might have been different.
Now the future is bright for Arsenal with a sense that silverware is inevitable — and Saliba knows it.
