Arsenal Manager Arteta Fuels Contract Speculation with Restaurant Meeting with Player

Mikel Arteta has been named Manager of the Year at the London Football Awards. pic.twitter.com/q3vnXbJsgM

— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) March 13, 2023

Congratulations to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on winning the Manager of the Year at the London Football Awards tonight.

“I would like to thank you for the award, for all my colleagues, all the staff, everyone at the club that inspires & supports me.” pic.twitter.com/CRjKesyLDK

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) March 13, 2023

On Monday, Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, and Bukayo Saka, the team’s star forward, were seen at a London restaurant. The sighting happened amidst rumors of Saka’s potential new contract with the team. The duo had attended the London Football Awards, where Arteta won the Manager of the Year award, and Saka received the Young Player of the Year award. Saka has had an impressive season, with ten goals and nine assists in the Premier League, building on his record from the previous campaign of eleven goals and seven assists.

There has been recent discussion surrounding Bukayo Saka’s contract with Arsenal, as his current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2024. The Athletic previously reported that any extensions for Saka, along with William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli, would be carefully considered in light of the team’s wage structure.

Mikel Arteta message to Arsenal fans:

“Thank you for the support, for the patience.” [BBC] pic.twitter.com/UZUeaaYz0m

— AfcVIP⁴⁹ (@VipArsenal) March 13, 2023

Last month, The Athletic claimed that Arsenal and Saka had reached a preliminary agreement on a new contract, while Martinelli had already signed a fresh deal.

The latest sighting of Arteta and Saka dining together at a London restaurant, Novikov, has sparked further interest and speculation regarding the young player’s future with the team. The restaurant offers a blend of Asian and Italian cuisine, according to the Daily Mail.

But Gunners supporters will surely be more concerned about the topic of conversation at the restaurant, with the 21-year-old’s contract potentially involved in the discussion.

But Gunners supporters will surely be more concerned about the topic of conversation at the restaurant, with the 21-year-old’s contract potentially involved in the discussion.

The rebuild of Mikel Arteta #Arsenalfc2022_23 pic.twitter.com/rmWCXzSHZM

— kanishk Ramkumar (@arsenal__things) March 14, 2023

According to The Athletic, although an agreement in principle has been reached between Bukayo Saka and Arsenal, the deal to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium has not been signed yet. The report suggests that it might take some time before an official announcement is made.

Saka will have one year left on his current contract this summer, but the fact that a new agreement is in place should ease concerns about the winger’s future with the team.

For the time being, Saka will be focusing entirely on Arsenal’s upcoming Europa League last 16 match against Sporting Lisbon, with the first leg ending in a 2-2 draw in Portugal.