Parlour pleads with Arsenal to ‘nail down’ key duo to avoid ‘same situation’ as before

Ray Parlour has pleaded with Arsenal to “nail down” Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli so they do not lose them for free or for a reduced transfer fee.

Arsenal are loving life at the moment as they are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League and their Europa League group.

This is with them winning 11 of their opening 12 games of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Gunners have steadily progressed under Mikel Arteta over the past few seasons. They mounted a surprising push for the Champions League last term but they ultimately missed out.

A bad start to this season could have easily resulted in Arteta’s demise, but he is now adored by Arsenal’s fans as they look well-positioned to finish fourth at the very least.

Saka and Martinelli have been key to their success in recent months. The attacking duo are two of the most promising young players in the Premier League.

They both shone for Arsenal last term but their performances have stepped up a level at the beginning of this campaign.

Saka and Martinelli have no doubt been helped by Gabriel Jesus’ arrival as the ex-Man City star has already proven to be an excellent signing.

Arteta is building a really exciting team but it is now important that they keep hold of their best players.

Saka and Martinelli are both due to be out of contract in 2024 and Arsenal are keen to tie them down to longer deals.

Liverpool are known to be admirers of Saka, while Chelsea have been linked with Martinelli in recent weeks. 

Arsenal have lost important players for next to nothing in the past, as Robin van Persie joined Man Utd and Samir Nasri signed for Man City.

Parlour is aware that the Gunners need to avoid this situation with Saka and Martinelli:

“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.”

Parlour added: “I’m sure there’ll be so much interest for Saka. All the 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.”

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