EPL

'I share his confidence' – Saka hopeful of new Arsenal deal following Arteta comments

By Sports Desk August 30, 2022

Bukayo Saka is confident he will agree to a new contract with Arsenal, revealing he feels "really loved" by Mikel Arteta and his Gunners teammates.

Saka has emerged as a key part of Arsenal's side since making his league debut in 2019, and hit the net 11 times to finish as their top Premier League goalscorer last season.

Since the start of last campaign, meanwhile, no Gunners player has recorded as many Premier League assists as Saka (eight), and only Martin Odegaard has created more chances (80 to Saka's 75).

While Saka's current deal does not expire until 2024, Arsenal are keen to tie one of their most important assets to new terms in order to avoid being placed in a vulnerable position at the end of the season.

Ahead of a 3-0 win at Bournemouth earlier this month, Arteta said he was "very confident" a new contract would be agreed with the England international.

When those comments were put to Saka ahead of Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Aston Villa on Wednesday, the 20-year-old responded: "I share his confidence.

"I really feel the love from my team-mates, my coaches and the fans as well. I feel really loved here."

Arsenal have made a perfect start to the new Premier League season, winning their first four games as Arteta earns plaudits for implementing an entertaining style of play since the acquisitions of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Saka hailed the Spaniard's man management skills as crucial to his development, adding: "I feel like he's always there for me. 

"He knows when to speak to me, it's not too much but it's not too little, and the different bits of advice he gives me are special and it makes such a difference."

Arsenal are looking to start a top-flight campaign with five consecutive victories for the fourth time when they welcome Villa to the Emirates Stadium, having previously done so in 1930-31, 1947-48 and 2004-05.

The Gunners ended the first two of those seasons as champions, finishing as runners-up to Chelsea last time they made such a strong start.

Related items

  • Tedesco 'still hurt' by France defeat at Euro 2024 Tedesco 'still hurt' by France defeat at Euro 2024

    Domenico Tedesco says Belgium are still hurting after their Euro 2024 exit to France as they prepare to meet them in the Nations League on Monday.

    Belgium suffered a 1-0 defeat to France in the round of 16 at the Euros, conceding an 85th-minute Jan Vertonghen own goal to send them crashing out after a poor tournament.

    It was a tight affair when the sides met in July, with both only managing two shots on target, though France's came from 19 overall attempts compared to Belgium's five.

    And Tedesco would rather forget about that meeting as he targets a more positive result this time around.

    "At the European Championship, it was a close one against France. We could have won too,” Tedesco told reporters.

    "France were a bit better, they deserved to win, but we also had our chances. It would be a lie if I said that match is forgotten. It still hurts. I often think about the European Championship, but you also must look ahead.

    "Looking back is not always the best solution. We have to be ambitious; it's been a long time since we beat France in a competitive match with commitment. Let us perform well, and then the rest will follow."

    Tedesco also admitted that Belgium over-prepared for that meeting with France, with their adjustments to the game plan proving detrimental.

    "The last match at the European Championship was different from the one now, it was a knockout match," he added.

    "We learned that we adjusted our own plans a bit too much then. You always have to analyse your opponent, but we adjusted excessively."

  • Clarke believes Scotland 'deserved something' following defeat to Portugal Clarke believes Scotland 'deserved something' following defeat to Portugal

    Scotland boss Steve Clarke has declared that his side "deserved something" from their Nations League clash with Portugal after losing 2-1 thanks to a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal.

    Scott McTominay gave Scotland an early lead after seven minutes, but Portugal fought back through goals from Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo to take all three points in Group A1.

    Ronaldo's goal came in the 88th minute and was his 901st career goal.

    It leaves Scotland on their longest-ever winless run as they remain without a win in their last eight competitive games in all competitions, but Clarke feels they should not have left Lisbon empty-handed.

    "I'm disappointed to lose a game where it looked, for a large period, we would get something from it," he told the BBC.

    "I'm really disappointed for my players because I think they deserved to get something from the game.

    "If you ignore the results, [there are a lot of positives], but we're professional, so it's disappointing.

    "We played well in these two games, but we don't have anything to show for it. I've told the players not to be too hard on themselves. They have to understand the work that we're doing."

    Scotland did well to prevent Portugal from getting any further sight at goal, defending a total of 26 shots during the match with seven ending up on target.

    The 16 shots the Scots had to defend in the opening 45 minutes were the most they have faced in a first-half since October 2012 when Belgium also let loose 16 efforts.

    "With the amount of balls that go into the box, you know one of them can go in the back of the net and that's what happened to us," added Clarke.

    "When you bring quality players from the bench like Roberto [Martinez] can do, you always know there's a risk, but I felt we handled it well.

    "We'll go away and analyse these games, and hopefully, we can give the lads a few pointers for the games next month, which don't get any easier."

    Gamechanger Ronaldo was brought on at half-time by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, a move that was well thought through and had the desired effect.

    "Ronaldo did 17 sprints against Croatia. He is the player who made the most sprints. So we need to protect the players. One more game in 72 hours is impossible to have a physical performance [equal]," Martinez explained.

    "The question was whether Ronaldo played the first half and left or came in and finished the game. That was the decision.

    "He is an asset to the national team. When he comes in, if the [team] needs goals, Cris gives energy and a feeling to the fans. The stadium is different.

    "If Cris leaves, it's the opposite and facilitates what the opponent would like to do when playing away from home in Portugal."

  • De la Fuente insists Spain are doing 'something important' for the country De la Fuente insists Spain are doing 'something important' for the country

    Luis de la Fuente believes Spain are doing "something important" for the country after they beat Switzerland 4-1 in the Nations League.

    La Roja made an underwhelming start to Group A4 in a 0-0 draw with Serbia but looked back to their best on Sunday.

    Fabian Ruiz's brace was sandwiched between goals from Joselu and Ferran Torres, with Spain able to clinch their first win of this season's tournament, despite Robin Le Normand's 20th-minute sending-off.

    De la Fuente was particularly impressed with how his players dug in after going down to 10 men, hailing them for a resilient performance.

    "I feel like we are doing something important for a country, that people identify with this group of players," De la Fuente said after the game.

    "We grow from humility and sacrifice as a team. I am proud of this group of players, which never ceases to surprise me.

    "If there's one thing I like to boast about, it's the pride I've always felt for this team. When these circumstances happen, one feels more proud, but to highlight a group of players that is a team, not a national team.

    "This team has plenty of self-esteem and humility because what they are doing is historic.

    "With 10 men, we have been able to interpret the game in a masterful way. I am very proud of this team and every day we see that we continue to grow and that we can improve."

    Spain finished the game with just 33.7% possession, understandably low after having just 10 players on the pitch for 70 minutes.

    They had nine shots overall, compared to Switzerland's 20, but got eight of theirs on target while the hosts only mustered three.

    De la Fuente was particularly impressed by Joselu's performance, with the former Real Madrid man setting the tone from the front.

    "I'm very happy for everyone, especially for Joselu because he deserves it," De la Fuente added.

    "He had the best game since he's been with us, he did everything we asked of him, both when we had 11 and when we were down to 10.

    "We were playing a very complete game. Pedri was playing a great game, but we understood that in order to have the chances we had, we had to make that change.

    "We felt very powerful. With 10 players, we played the perfect game, we defended very well, we had a great goalkeeper..."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.