The weekend was BBQ weather, and Edu was back at the coals cooking.
There had been talk last week that Arsenal and William Saliba were not far from agreeing terms on a new deal. And whilst must of us were sitting in the sunshine having a few rum cocktails, the news broke.
Saliba is one of the best young central defenders in world football. There were some naysers trying to create the narrative that he was unhappy at Arsenal due to his loan deal to Marsielle. That he did not like Mikel Arteta.
The new deal shows that these people really do not know what they are talking about. And that they are happy to try and distabalise the club sharing fake news to gain YouTube hits.
They have a wierd hatred for Mikel Arteta and will do whatever they can online to try and undermine him. It is odd behaviour.
The Saliba deal has come shortly after Bukayo Saka committed his future to the club. Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel have also both signed new deals and Martin Odegaard is set to follow in their footsteps. These are huge positives for the club.
We are in a similar position to 2008. A team of talented young players who overachieved and could have won the league.
After the 2007/08 season, we struggled to keep hold of our best players. Manchester City, Barcelona, Manchester United and others came in for our stars, snapped them up, and gave them success and money.
This time is different. We are tying down our best players to new deals.
One thing of note is both Saka and Saliba only signed 4-year deals. That basically means we could have just 2 more years with them both.
If in 2025, we are not still a competitive side, winning trophies, I expect both to move on.
You can easily see Saliba at Real Madrid and Saka at City. It is now about Edu, Arteta and the rest of them to recruit and coach players that will lead us to success. It will also be down to Saliba and Saka to continue improving us and lead us to glory.
So what next?
Well Edu is currently boiling up some rice inside to go with the BBQ. And it will be ready soon.
I think the only people that do not expect Declan Rice to join Arsenal is West Ham fans. They are a little deluded over the fact. I even saw one say “pay Rice £500k a week and give him a 10-year deal. He will stay then.”
Sorry to break it to you mockney bastards, but he is fed up with being in relegation battles. He no longer wants to play for a fickle fan base that call forn the manager and boards head every other week.
Rice wants to play for a stable, forward thinking club that plays at the top level. Winning the European Johnstone’s Paint Trophy is beneath him.
We have England internationals this week, so do not expect a deal to be done over the next fortnight.
My gut is Rice will want his future tied up not too soon after those England games. He can then go on holiday, relax, before turning up to The Arsenal for the first day of training.
Have a good Monday.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
Somehow rather I know if Declan Rice moves to Arsenal, he will deputise the captaincy with Odegaard, whom he admires greatly and eventually become the England captain. He will become the force to be reckon with and will fulfill his great potential under Mikel Arteta.
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