Bukayo Saka has extended his contract for another 4 years, receiving a salary of about 300,000 pounds/week (the highest in the club). If he completes this contract with The Gunners, when Saka is nearly 30 years old, it is considered that he will dedicate his entire peak career to the Emirates Stadium.
Before Saka, Aaron Ramsey was the last player to spend 10 years with Arsenal. Ramsey's last season also coincided with the time when a group of young talents were promoted to the first team from the Hale End academy. In 2018, when Arsenal played in the Europa League, Saka made his first appearance in the match against Vorskla Poltava, a Ukrainian team. When Arsenal was leading 3-0, Ramsey left the field in the 68th minute and Saka replaced him with jersey number 87 on his back.
If Saka completes this contract with Arsenal, he will not only reach the milestone of 10 years of attachment to the club, the English striker will also become a "one-club man". In the current Premier League, there are many players who are also preparing to complete 10 years of attachment to a team such as Bernardo Silva, John McGinn, Alisson Becker, Fabian Schar and Diogo Dalot. However, they have all played for more than 1 team. The player with the longest playing time for a club currently in the Premier League is Seamus Coleman (from 2009) but he also played for Sligo Rovers and Blackpool.
Looking back at the last time Arsenal won the Premier League in 2004, in a squad with many players who have been with them for a long time such as Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry or Patrick Vieira. When a team owns top players and has loyalty from them, the desire to reach the next level is mandatory.
The period from 1980 to 2000 witnessed Arsenal win many titles, accompanied by many loyal players, which is reminiscent of Bukayo Saka at the present time. For many years, there has been a view that Saka is not big enough to go to more powerful teams, but if this striker leaves, looking back at the Arsenal squad, how many people still carry tradition and class to that level to nurture the desire for the club?
Saka has been with Arsenal since he was 9 years old and now is 24, he will continue to play for a few more seasons. This is the 3rd time Saka has extended his contract with Arsenal. He is not currently a veteran but will become a player with such a role if he completes this new contract. Arsenal needs Saka and vice versa, this striker also needs The Gunners to reach for major titles.
Each time Saka signed with Arsenal, the club was at a different level. In 2018 when Saka made his debut, Arsenal finished the season outside the Top 4 Premier League. In the first extension, Saka was in the squad registered to play in the 2020 FA Cup final. Saka's next extension came in 2023, which was their first season competing for the championship.
Now, Arsenal is leading the Premier League and is the team with the best performance in the Champions League qualifiers, reached the League Cup final and reached the 5th round of the FA Cup.
In recent years, Bukayo Saka has contributed to bringing Arsenal to a new height. He understands better than anyone the meaning of planting the Arsenal flag at the peak of fame.
