‘They’ve got to’ - Arsenal legend sends contracts warning amid ongoing talks

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour fears two key stars will be allowed to leave on the cheap if the club are not careful.

It has been an excellent start to the season for the Gunners, who sit top of the Premier League table having won all but one of their games so far. Central to their excellent form have been star wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, with Mikel Arteta relying heavily upon the young pair.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are hoping to tie both players down to new deals, with Saka and Martinelli now in the last 18 months of their respective contracts, though it’s worth noting the Gunners do hold an extension option for the latter.

Despite his prominance, Saka is one of the lowest paid senior players as things stand, and Arsenal want to change that, to reward him, and indeed to keep him off the market.

But Gunners legend Parlour fears the situation could get the better of his former club, as it has in the past. “We’ve seen it happen so many times at Arsenal where people have gone on free transfers,” Parlour told talkSPORT.

“Back in the day [Robin] van Persie – free transfer more or less. We had to sell him with a year left [on his contract]. [Samir] Nasri was in the same situation. So now you’ve got to highlight who you want to keep, who’s your players going forward.

“I’m sure there’ll be so much interest for Saka. All the big big boys will come in and try to sign him. So now sit down with him, get him on a good contract. Martinelli’s in the same boat – they’ve got to try to nail him down as well. [Emile] Smith Rowe has just signed a new contract, I know he’s injured at the moment but you’ve got to try and get these youngsters to sign up and believe that in two or three years time, this club is going somewhere.”

Both Martinelli and Saka are said to be happy at Arsenal, and talks are said to be progressing between both players and the club.