'Need to be careful ' - Ian Wright warns Arsenal that players could repeat Mo Salah trick

Arsenal could have a contract problem or two brewing, according to one of their club legends. The Gunners look as though they will fall short of the Premier League title again after dropping three points against West Ham over the weekend, while Liverpool took care of Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s men are now 11 points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, and crucially, the Reds aren’t showing any signs of entering a slide. It’s becoming an all too familiar tale for the Gunners, who just can’t seem to get over the line despite making significant improvements under Arteta’s guide.

Arsenal do have a very good squad, but if they can’t deliver trophies, some of those top players may opt to move on to join a club that can consistently get the job done. That’s a factor Arsenal will be nervous about, especially with Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli all out of contract in 2027.

Liverpool are in a similar situation currently, with Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk all allowing their contracts to enter their final months, with negotiations still ongoing. The Reds have also consistently fallen short over recent years, and they must now convince their top stars to stay put, albeit money is also a big part of it.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has warned that Arsenal could be walking into a similar situation, warning that they need to set the tone with their summer recruitment. Speaking on Wrighty's House podcast, he said: “When you’re talking about renewals with certain players, Saka, Gabriel [Magalhaes], Saliba, the way they’re moving now, I bet those renewals are all going to be slow. We’re going to have a situation maybe like Liverpool with Trent, Salah and Virgil.

“If I’m one of these players, and their teams are going to be saying, ‘Let’s wait and see, we’ve got two years left so let’s wait and see who they get in the summer. I know the manager has signed again but let’s wait and see’. If they’re not going to get the kind of players that take us to the next step, look at Saliba. Real Madrid would take him tomorrow.

“Why not wait and see what’s going on in the summer to see the kind of players and calibre of player we’re signing. This is what the people upstairs need to be careful of. I’m sure Mikel will have told them that because he’s probably got the same kind of ambition: if you’re not going to give me the kind of players I need, I’m not going to be able to keep the players I’ve got here that are our best players, who are now running down their contracts.

“We’re going to have a situation maybe like Liverpool with Trent, Salah and Virgil. If I’m one of these players, and their teams are going to be saying, ‘Let’s wait and see, we’ve got two years left so let’s wait and see who they get in the summer. I know the manager has signed again but let’s wait and see’.

“If they’re not going to get the kind of players that take us to the next step, look at Saliba. Real Madrid would take him tomorrow. Why not wait and see what’s going on in the summer to see the kind of players and calibre of player we’re signing. This is what the people upstairs need to be careful of. I’m sure Mikel will have told them that because he’s probably got the same kind of ambition: if you’re not going to give me the kind of players I need, I’m not going to be able to keep the players I’ve got here that are our best players, who are now running down their contracts.”

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