New contract until 2027 and club MVP - Why Bukayo Saka is so important to Arsenal

Bukayo Saka has signed a new contract with Arsenal that will keep him at the club for the coming seasons. The club confirmed on Tuesday that the England international had committed his future to the North London side, with numerous reports in England stating that his new deal will keep him at the club until 2027. Intriguingly, David Ornstein of the Athletic understands that there is no option for the club to automatically extend the deal beyond that. 

Stats

B. SakaRight Winger

Arsenal FC

Season 22/23–
Premier League

Games

38

Goals

14

Assists

11

Such news will lead to many Arsenal fans rejoicing, following an impressive Premier League campaign that had seen Mikel Arteta’s team emerge as surprise title challengers to Manchester City. Although Pep Guardiola’s team have since won the league campaign, Arsenal fans still have plenty to be excited about going forward. And it seems as though Saka will be front and centre of Arteta’s plans in the coming seasons. 

One of the best wingers in Europe

This, undoubtedly, is a huge boost to Arsenal. While few would doubt that the 21-year-old talent is already one of the most impressive players in the English top-flight, few are perhaps aware of just how good Saka has been for Arteta’s team this season. To date, the Arsenal forward has bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in 47 games for the club and when we compare that to the rest of European football, it really goes some way to showing just how exciting a talent Saka is. 

Indeed, not only is Saka’s combined goals and assists impressive in its own right, but when we narrow it down to his league contributions this season and compare it to the best players in the world, the England international still comes out looking extremely impressive. Indeed, Saka’s 24 league goals and assists is the fourth best return for a winger across Europe’s top leagues - placing the Arsenal star behind Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Pedro Gonçalves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. And as the chart above shows, there isn’t much in it. 

Arsenal’s greatest asset 

Such has been Saka’s impressive form for Arsenal in recent years that the young forward has quickly risen up the ranks of the Premier League’s highest market values. As such, the 21-year-old winger is now the joint-second most valuable player in the English top flight, level with Phil Foden on €110 million each and behind only Erling Haaland, who sits top with an impressive market value of €170m. 

However, what’s perhaps even more impressive than his ranking in the league is the progress he’s made in the past few years. For example, two years ago Saka’s market value stood at €60m, before rising to €70m before the start of this season. However, due to the aforementioned performances he’s put on in the Premier League and at the World Cup, Saka saw his market value rise by an incredible €40m in just one season. And there’s little doubt that it’ll continue trending upwards if Arteta & Co. can continue impressing at the London club.