Arsenal defender William Saliba has claimed that he is "so happy" with life in North London as the Gunners try to tie the 21-year-old down to a new long-term contract.
After failing to make a single competitive appearance for the club during his first three years on the books, Saliba has been one of the Premier League's leading centre-backs this season.
The France international's partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes at the back has been instrumental in the Gunners building an eight-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table, and he enjoyed another strong performance in Sunday's North London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Saliba's contract at the Emirates Stadium was due to expire at the end of the season, but the Gunners have activated a 12-month extension option to retain the Frenchman's services until at least the summer of 2024.
Arsenal are in discussions with Saliba's entourage over a new deal, although it has been claimed that the centre-back's agents are not satisfied with the wages on the table.
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Nevertheless, Saliba has affirmed that he is loving life at Arsenal and is only focused on the Premier League title race while contract talks rumble on in the background.
"I am so happy here. The club is speaking with my agent and me, the only thing I can do is [focus on my football]. I am so happy here," the Evening Standard quotes Saliba as saying.
When asked if North London derby victories such as Sunday's could influence his decision whether to stay at the club, Saliba responded: "Yeah, of course!"
The former Saint-Etienne starlet, who has been loaned out to Les Verts, Nice and Marseille since 2019, has started all 18 Premier League games for Arsenal this term, scoring two goals and setting up eight more.
The Gunners have dropped just seven points all season long with Saliba an ever-present in the backline, but the centre-back does not believe that the pressure is on his side, who have not won a Premier League title since 2004.
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"There's no pressure because we play for that. It's better to have this pressure when you are at the top than when you are down at the bottom. It's better to keep going like this and we don't have to have pressure," Saliba added.
"We knew it was a long time since we won here [Tottenham], so we wanted to win here and keep a clean sheet. We are so happy because the derby is a big game, and it was an away game, too. We prepared all week for this, and we are so happy to finish like that.
"After the summer, when I saw the team and the mentality, I tell myself: 'Yeah, we can do something this season'."
Saliba's fellow 21-year-olds Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are also in talks over new contracts with Arsenal, who have already extended Gabriel Magalhaes's deal until 2027 this season.
Arsenal host fourth-placed Manchester United in their next Premier League game on Sunday, although Man City can close the gap at the top back down to five points with victory over Tottenham on Thursday evening.
Ben Knapton
