Arsenal move swiftly to lock in Saliba as Saka talks surge under Berta’s blueprint

Arsenal aren’t just building a squad, they’re building an era. Fresh off a slick summer window, the club have switched gears to contract control, with new sporting director Andrea Berta making renewals the heartbeat of his plan. Exhibit A: William Saliba, tied down on a fresh five-year deal in what feels like a statement swing of the hammer from the Emirates hierarchy.

Saliba sorted: five years and Madrid kept at arm’s length

The agreement is done, the paperwork has sailed through on both sides, and Saliba’s representative is due in London to rubber-stamp the formalities. Arsenal accelerated this one cleverly, sending an improved package at the end of August; Saliba liked the project, liked the timing, and said yes. Simple as that.

This is a massive win for Arsenal’s project: a long-term commitment from their defensive linchpin, while shutting down the noise that Real Madrid were preparing a 2026 play and internally likening him to a Bellingham-esque figure at the back. For context, his previous deal ran to June 2027, but the club have moved to reframe and extend the relationship on their terms and timeline, avoiding a messy second half of the season full of whispers.

If you watched the win over Newcastle last weekend, you saw the authority again: Saliba won three duels, per Sofascore data (correct as of 29/09/2025). Not eye-popping, but it told the story — calm, commanding, and decisive in the biggest moments.

Arteta’s hands-on approach and Saka next in line

Mikel Arteta isn’t leaving this to the suits. As with Saliba, the manager has been directly involved in conversations with players, and that personal touch is now trained on Bukayo Saka. The star boy wants to stay, the club want him to stay, and everyone at London Colney is treating his new deal as the next headline renewal.

Arsenal sources are upbeat — Saka is seen as untouchable, integral to everything they’re building. With promising summer agreements already banked for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, this is about locking the core before they lock horns with the rest of the league over the next few seasons.

Berta’s blueprint: timing, control, and momentum

What stands out is the tempo. Berta values timing as much as talent — get ahead of the market, swerve the rumour mill, and keep the dressing room laser-focused. Securing Saliba now while fast-tracking Saka’s talks is exactly that: a message to Europe that Arsenal won’t be reactive. They’ll be proactive, and they’ll be quick.

For supporters eyeing how the title odds ebb and flow after this news, it’s worth a glance at the best betting sites to see how the market’s reading Arsenal’s momentum. One thing’s for sure — the club have tightened the bolts at the back and are moving to safeguard the sparkle up front.

All statistics courtesy of Sofascore, correct as of 29/09/2025.