William Saliba is set to sign a new long-term contract with Arsenal, securing his future with the club. The centre-back has established himself as one of the top defenders in Europe, attracting interest from Real Madrid. However, he will commit to the Gunners by penning a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Contract negotiations began in May as Arsenal aimed to retain their defensive stalwart, who has been pivotal in the team's success under manager Mikel Arteta. Real Madrid has a history of acquiring players whose contracts are nearing expiration, with notable examples including Antonio Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe. They had been monitoring Saliba's situation closely.

Despite the interest from Madrid, Saliba has consistently expressed his happiness in London. He played 51 matches for Arsenal last season, contributing to the club's second-place finish in the Premier League and their run to the Champions League semi-finals. Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne during Unai Emery's tenure and has since had several loan spells in France before establishing himself in the first team.

Although he has yet to win a trophy with Arsenal, the club's last silverware being the FA Cup in 2020, Saliba's presence has significantly strengthened their defence, which is now regarded as one of the best in Europe. His partnership with Gabriel has been particularly effective, and he has logged more Premier League minutes than any other Arsenal outfielder in the past two seasons, highlighting his importance to the team.

In July, when asked about his contract situation, Saliba stated, "Yes, hopefully - of course there is nothing now but there is a good conversation with my agent and the club. Let’s see." Currently the highest-paid defender at Arsenal, this new contract will further solidify his status and salary, reflecting his standing as one of Europe's elite defenders.

Arsenal has successfully retained their key players during their resurgence, with Gabriel signing a new deal in June. Other players, including Leandro Trossard, who was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, and academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, have also extended their contracts.