Mikel Arteta provides Bukayo Saka contract update

The 20-year-old's existing deal with the Gunners is due to expire in June 2024, and there has been a host of speculation surrounding his future in recent weeks.

Manchester City and Liverpool are both believed to be interested in signing the England international, who has made 131 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions.

However, Arteta is confident that Arsenal will soon be able to extend Saka's contract, with the Spaniard insisting that both parties "have the same intention".

"We will try," Arteta told football.london. "We both have the same intention. It's a matter of time."

Saka excelled for Arteta's side during the 2021-22 campaign, scoring 12 goals and registering seven assists in 43 appearances in all competitions.

The Englishman netted 11 times and provided seven assists in 38 Premier League appearances, while he has now made 97 top-flight appearances for Arsenal since debuting in 2018.

Saka was on the scoresheet on Saturday, meanwhile, as the Gunners continued their pre-season with a 2-0 victory over fellow Premier League side Everton in Maryland.

According to football.london, Arsenal view the youngster's contract as a priority this summer, as they could be forced into a sale in the summer of 2023 if he does not pen a fresh agreement.

Arteta's side are currently building towards the start of their 2022-23 Premier League campaign, with their league opener coming against Crystal Palace on August 5.

The Gunners, who finished fifth in last season's Premier League table, will take on Orlando City, Chelsea and Sevilla in their next three pre-season games before travelling to Palace.

The North London club have been busy during this summer's transfer window, bringing in Marquinhos, Matt Turner, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal are also being strongly linked with a move for Man City's Oleksandr Zinchenko, with the club said to be determined to sign him before the end of the month.

The Gunners had also been credited with an interest in Ajax's Lisandro Martinez but have missed out on the Argentina international to Manchester United, with the Red Devils expired to confirm the deal in the near future.

Meanwhile, Matteo Guendouzi, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Alexandre Lacazette and Auston Trusty have left Arsenal this summer.