Arteta wants early resolution of Saka’s future 

Arsenal manager Mike Arteta remains confident that Nigeria-born England forward Bukayo Saka will sign a new, long-term contract with the North London club but the manager admits he is keen to put pen to paper before it becomes a distraction for the player or club.

'I am very confident that we as a club and Bukayo, his family, his agent, everybody, we are very much aligned in what we want to achieve. And now it is about putting it on a piece of paper,' Arteta said on Friday.

Arsenal last month offered Saka a new deal that would see him become one of the club's best-paid players.

The 20-year-old's current terms expire in under two years and talks over an extension have been ongoing for a while.

Sportsmail revealed recently that Arsenal would accelerate talks amid growing interest from rival clubs, including Manchester City, in the England international.

With the World Cup a few months away, Arteta said: 'I would like that to get done, because I don't want the player or anybody distracted while we are in the middle of the season. 

'But those things take time and they have to go through the right process, and I think the process has been really good.'

Securing Saka to a contract extension will come as a major boost to the Gunners. 

There has been going speculation over whether the 20-year-old would agree to the new terms with the club. 

Manchester City view Saka as their dream replacement for Raheem Sterling - who has left for Chelsea.

Saka also has ambitions to play in the Champions League and Arsenal's failure to finish in the top four last season has complicated the Gunners attempts to agree on a new deal with their academy graduate.

However, the signings of Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Viera should see Arsenal become serious contenders to qualify for the Champions League during the forthcoming season.

But, it remains to be seen whether that will be enough to convince Saka that he can fulfil his goals at the North London club next season. 

Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Bournemouth, Arteta also leapt to the defence of Aaron Ramsdale.

The goalkeeper was criticised for letting James Maddison's shot squeeze through his legs at the near post in victory over Leicester last week.

Amazon's All or Nothing documentary laid bare how badly the goalkeeper can react to conceding a goal and Arteta said: 'I think Aaron has been pretty good at the start of the season.

'You have seen that in a very specific moment (in the documentary) but if you put the cameras on someone when they make a mistake, they feel, they hurt it takes a few days to swallow.

'You can see the families as well, how much they suffer, it is good to see the players really care.'