Arsenal remain optimistic on Bukayo Saka’s new contract, despite negotiations going on for months, according to a report.

Arsenal have been working on Bukayo Saka’s contract for a long time now, making it one of their priorities over the summer. The club have been in talks with Saka’s camp for months, and negotiations are still ongoing.

But Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal are still feeling optimistic about a new deal for the 21-year-old. They evidently don’t feel the current delay is leading to a breakdown in talks.

Saka put in an excellent performance for Arsenal on Thursday night, and he has five goals and four assists for the Gunners this season already.

The winger is playing some of his best football, and the upcoming World Cup could well increase his stock as he likely plays regularly with England.

The Athletic report that Arsenal’s contract negotiations with Saka are more advanced than those with Gabriel Martinelli or William Saliba, and it’s now apparently a matter of when, rather than if, a contract is finalised.

For now, however, Saka only has a deal lasting until 2024 at most, even including his option to extend. So the fans are likely to remain nervous until that changes.

Back in August, Mikel Arteta said: “I’m very confident that we as a club, Bukayo and his family and his agent are very much aligned on what we want to achieve.

“I would like that to get done because I don’t want the player or anybody distracted in the middle of the season, but those things take time and have to go through the right process.”

In response, Saka told the media: “Yes, I share his confidence.”