In a bold move signaling their ambition to dominate English football, Arsenal are poised to shatter their wage structure with a staggering £600,000-a-week double deal to secure the futures of two cornerstones, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba. The North London club, under the stewardship of manager Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta, is prepared to elevate the duo to the top of the Gunners’ pay scale, offering each contracts worth approximately £300,000 per week. This unprecedented investment aims to fend off interest from Europe’s elite and cement Arsenal’s status as a Premier League powerhouse.
Saka, the 23-year-old England winger, has been the heartbeat of Arsenal’s resurgence. His dazzling runs, pinpoint crosses, and knack for crucial goals—15 in the Premier League last season—have made him indispensable. Currently earning around £195,000 per week, Saka’s new deal would place him among the league’s highest earners, a testament to his status as a homegrown hero. “Bukayo is our present and our future,” Arteta said recently, praising the academy graduate’s leadership and consistency. With Real Madrid and Manchester City reportedly circling, Arsenal’s hierarchy views the bumper contract as essential to keeping their star man at the Emirates, where he’s already notched 54 goals and 58 assists in 231 appearances.
Saliba, the 24-year-old French defender, is equally critical to Arsenal’s long-term vision. Earning close to £200,000 per week, the centre-back has transformed the Gunners’ backline into one of Europe’s stingiest, conceding just 29 goals in the 2024-25 Premier League season. His composure, aerial dominance, and ability to play out from the back have drawn comparisons to Virgil van Dijk, with Real Madrid among the clubs eyeing a move. “William is a generational talent,” Arteta declared after Saliba’s commanding display in a 4-0 rout of Ipswich Town. The proposed £300,000-a-week deal would vault Saliba above teammates like Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Declan Rice in the wage hierarchy, a strategic move to lock down a player pivotal to Arsenal’s title aspirations.
The combined £600,000-a-week package marks a seismic shift for Arsenal, who have historically maintained a cautious wage policy. “It’s a statement of intent,” a club insider noted, emphasizing the need to reward Saka and Saliba’s contributions while deterring suitors. The deals come at a time when Arsenal are pushing to end Liverpool’s Premier League dominance, having finished second in the recent campaign. Despite a Champions League semi-final loss to PSG, where Ousmane Dembele’s early goal exposed midfield frailties, Arsenal’s project under Arteta is gaining momentum. “We want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality to go to the next step,” Arteta said, hinting at a busy summer transfer window.
Beyond securing Saka and Saliba, Arsenal are plotting squad reinforcements. The club has made Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres their top striker target, with a £60 million bid and a £240,000-a-week contract on the table, matching the salaries of Odegaard and Rice. “Gyokeres is the priority,” a source confirmed, noting his 43 goals in 50 games last season make him a more attainable option than Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, with a €60 million release clause, is set to bolster the midfield, having verbally agreed terms. Interest in Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap further underscores Arsenal’s attacking ambitions, though Williams’ £350,000-a-week demands have raised concerns.
The financial commitment to Saka and Saliba reflects Arsenal’s newfound flexibility under Berta, who replaced Edu in November 2024. Unlike rivals Chelsea and Barcelona, constrained by Financial Fair Play and salary caps, Arsenal’s prudent squad planning allows them to move decisively. “Arsenal’s smart planning lets them act where others can’t,” an analyst observed, pointing to the club’s ability to balance blockbuster deals with youth development, as seen in teenage goalkeeper Alexei Rojas’ recent contract extension.
As Arsenal prepare for a pivotal summer, the £600,000-a-week investment in Saka and Saliba is a clarion call: the Gunners are ready to compete with Europe’s elite. With Arteta’s vision, Berta’s deal-making, and the unwavering brilliance of their star duo, Arsenal are not just building a team—they’re crafting a legacy.