ARTETA PRAISES SALIBA OVER CONTRACT EXTENSION

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta spoke highly of the maturity and consistency of William Saliba on Friday, with the French centre-back reportedly close to signing a new deal at the Emirates.
Saliba, who is out of contract in 2027, is being lined up to sign a five-year extension with the Gunners amid reported interest from Real Madrid.

"Hoping it is everybody in the world, including Arsenal, (reporting it) soon and that is what I hope," Arteta said ahead of Sunday's trip to Newcastle.
Saliba signed for the Gunners in 2019 but spent a few loan seasons before establishing himself as a first-choice member of Arteta's team in the 2022/23 campaign.

Since then the 24-year-old France international has been at the heart of an Arsenal side which have come in second place in each of the previous three seasons in the Premier League.

Alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba has built arguably the best centre-back duo on the European continent as Arsenal have emerged as title pretenders again.

"He's been at the heart of everything we've done these last couple of years," said Arteta.
"It is great that a lot of the players wish and are so eager to play for the club. That suggests that they are happy, that they feel valued and that they can see that this is the ideal opportunity for them to continue playing and meet the aspiration of the club.".
"It's truly impressive what he's achieved at such a young age because there are times we tend to forget. But his consistency, the way he's matured, I think the way he's grown up both off the pitch and in his position in the team has progressed year by year. He's been a big part of that."

If they are to eliminate their label of nearly men when it comes to the title, they cannot afford to drop more points against Newcastle this weekend at St James' Park.
Arteta's side already trail defending champions Liverpool by five points, five games into the new campaign.
Arsenal were beaten on their previous three visits to Newcastle and Arteta is well aware of how vital it is to break that sequence.
"To play (there) it's such a challenge and opportunity as well so it's a great game to play," he said.
"We know the test, we know that we're going to have to be much more efficient than we've been lately when we played up there to win the game."

Arteta can call on captain Martin Odegaard from a shoulder problem but new recruit Noni Madueke is likely to miss as much as two months after damaging a knee.