Ian Wright reacts to William Saliba’s contract update from David Ornstein
Arsenal Ian Wright has reacted on Twitter after The Athletic journalist David Ornstein claimed the club will announce the contract extension of William Saliba on Friday.
The French centre-back signed a new four-year deal with the North London club on Thursday.
While earlier reports claim the contract consists of the option of an additional 12 months, Ornstein says that is not the case.
Saliba has no release clause in his new deal and will earn around £10 million per year.
The 22-year-old was entering into the final 12 months of his previous deal, but Arsenal have managed to get him to commit his future to the club.
The news left Wright very delighted given that it has come from one of the most reliable sources when it comes to transfer updates, and the Gunners legend immediately reacted thus:
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) July 6, 2023
Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in July 2019 but was loaned back to the Ligue 1 club for the entirety of the following season.
He spent the first half of 2020-21 back in North London but only featured for the under-23s before joining OGC Nice on loan for the rest of the season in January 2021.
Saliba then spent 2021-22 on loan with Marseille before returning to his parent club ahead of the last term.
He quickly established himself as a regular under manager Mikel Arteta, featuring in 33 games across all competitions before a back injury in March ruled him out of the remainder of the campaign.
It dealt a huge blow on Arsenal’s Premier League campaign as they won just five of their last 11 league games after he got injured.
The dip in form allowed Manchester City to catch up with them and overtake them, and Arteta will hope the Frenchman can be kept fit all through next season.
Jesus has just said Saliba’s injury cost AFC the title last season because there was no one good enough to replace him which threw AFC’s system completely out and i agree with him.
Arteta has brought in Timber to resolve that problem and he is an important signing plus having Tomisaki back from injury gives Arteta more options with Ben White,players like Holding,Elneny are basically good players who are popular but just not top class so they need to go.
This appears to be happening with new contracts for the top players,great new signings and now Xhaka could be the first of many to go.
Arteta’s process is in full swing and fans who love AFC can see the light again after over a decade of darkness.
Watchout the gunners are back…..