Saka’s new contract is perfect for Arsenal, and also perfect timing for PR reasons…

If ever there was a week where Gooners needed some good news. by Dan Smith

If ever there was a month when we would needed a glimmer of hope for the future.

If ever the club required some much needed light after a dark period.

It’s almost like are PR department timed the announcement of Bukayo Saka’s contract extension deliberately.

From a business perspective it’s smart.

Send your customers away not all doom and gloom, if nothing else, confident that the majority of our youngsters have committed their future to us. Youth which in theory should only get better and will be stronger for the experience of a failed title pursuit.

It’s more likely to convince your consumers to invest in your latest merchandise.

On the pitch it can only help, in a week where our manager said ‘healing’ was stage one.

For Arteta himself this will help get his swagger back.

After finishing 8th, our worst position in quarter of a century, Josh Kroenke, Edu, BFG and Arteta sat down and assessed all departments of the club, making action plans in how to improve all areas.

I will wait to see how ambitious our owners are, now that they have their precious Champions League revenue.

Do they have the desire to take that extra step and make us Champions or will they revert back to the business model which failed Mr Wenger?

One aspect that has dramatically improved is ensuring your best talent is on long term contracts.

When Aron Ramsey left as a free agent, Vinai Venkatesham stressed this would never be allowed to happen again.

Players either agreed new deals or were sold before they entered to final 12 months of existing deals.

That promise hasn’t always been fulfilled.

Lacazette left for nothing, Aubameyang got a substantial pay rise based on running down his deal, Eddie Nketiah ran down his deal, Reiss Nelson is doing the same, it’s been confirmed Maitland Niles will leave for nothing, and it remains to be seen what our stance is if we can’t reach a compromise with Saliba?

Saka though joins Ramsdale, Gabriel and Martinelli in all putting pen to paper in recent months

I have written this before; the only reason Liverpool have been more successful than us in recent years is they acted more decisive in their contract negotiations.

They were no different to us in having players who wanted to leave. Yet by ensuring these men were on long term deals, Liverpool could demand a huge asking price.

Arsenal had assets, but their value reduced because they only had months left on their deals.

So, Liverpool could demand Barcelona pay over the odds for Coutinho, while we had to accept a swap deal for Sanchez.

That left Klopp with cash to reinvest, while we had nothing to show for an asset just as good.

The other disadvantage of letting deals run down is agents then have the power, able to quote huge salaries because they know you don’t want to face fans backlash of losing your star man.

That’s how Aubameyang and Ozil got their salaries.

In a sense that’s how Eddie got his.

So, we now have Saka committed to us till 2027.

If in that time he feels he can earn more money and medals elsewhere (and that happens), we can be well compensated.

To be a big club you act like a big club.

Big clubs don’t let assets run down contracts.

Finally, we are learning….

Well done, Arsenal.

Dan


Video – Alfie and Rob are back for the summer transfer window
Here is their first analysis of the summer, where Alfie and Rob discuss and predict every single possible Arsenal incoming and outgoing this summer, including fees and potential destinations for outgoings.

CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link

Tags contract PR dept Saka

13 Comments

  1. It’s good that Saka’s signed up, but at the reported £15 million per year is he setting a benchmark for all contract negotiations?

    1. Also only 4 year contract, until he’s just 25.. Seems very short.

      Its also noteworthy that Mo Salah was on 100-150k a week before signing his mega 350k a week extension last year. And by that time he had already scored 150 goals for Pool. Point being, we gave Saka salary increase from roughly 50-60k to 300k at once, could’ve tried to extend his contract gradually way earlier.

      Let’s hope he keeps delivering.

  2. Yes this announcement was timely, Saka is Arsenal poster boy alright.
    The kid is British and always sports a big broad smile.

    Now we must beat Wolves convincingly and restore some form of respectability to our campaign as it concludes.

  3. He was just included in England squad again. Hopefully he can persuade Rice, Phillips, Maddison or Eze to join us

  4. I think we already knew it was done. It was a case of when they officially announce it
    He has been one of our better players for a few seasons now so he has earned the right to put himself forward for a big pay day
    We would be up in arms if he didn’t sign a d we would have to cash in on him
    The club is still not perfect when it co.es to these matters but at least we are laying some ground rules for the future
    Keeping the core of our key players together has got to be priority if we are to keep going forward.
    As for pool, yes they at one point got it right but wow ..
    Do they need to invest again to get back on track
    Last season they looked unbeatable. This season there side still needs an overhaul and especially midfield
    Funny how things can change in just one season
    Onwards and upwards

    1. Your penultimate paragraph Allanball08 is so true
      I can see City having a torrid time next season!😉.

      1. Yes, every one kerp saying that every season, keep hoping that city have a horrid time

        1. Gundown
          City are a different beast then Pool but We live In hope
          Question for anyone who cares to answer
          We all wanted a perfect season but tailed off at the end
          Would we have preferred our fast start to Xmas
          Or
          Slow start at the beginning and strong finish at the end
          Same position as where we are now

          1. I prefer a strong finish as that doesn’t hurt… It’s far better to start slowly and finish Strong than starting Strong, raising hopes and failing terribly thats hurts everyone including the players, a strong finish gives believe to the upcoming season than a poor one

      2. There is no way this City team can have a torrid time cos Pep adds one or two important players to his team every season to make up for the perfect team he already has. It is better we do our business by bringing in good players to compete with City than sitting back and expecting them to collapse for us to rise. It doesn’t happen that way especially with Pep as a coach

  5. Dan’s comments on Liverpool’s player management is right on point concerning professional competent payer asset management. Arsenal’s asset management of players with regard to ensuring that players are contracted to deliver resale value if sold is abyssmal. Too many players are allowed to run down their contracts and leave Arsenal for zero income for the Club.
    Arsenal has to be ruthless. If players refuse to sign contract extensions with 2 years left, they should be sold immediately.

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors