Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been warned that it would be a 'huge failure' if the Gunners are forced to sell Bukayo Saka.
Manchester City are reportedly targeting a deal for the Gunners superstar amid uncertainty over his contract and future at the Emirates. Saka has two years remaining on his current deal, but Arsenal do have the option to extend that by another year.
After missing out on Champions League football last season, pressure is building on the club to renew a deal with the 20-year-old. Saka featured in every Premier League game last season, scoring 11 goals and registering seven assists.
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Speaking on talkSPORT, former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan believes Arsenal shouldn't even contemplate the idea of allowing Saka to leave. Jordan said: "Arsenal should not want to sell players who have come through their youth policy that have been developed under the regime of Arsenal's mentality, that have come into the first team after all the endeavours of their academies to bring a young player through and then not be able to find some sort of solution to the conundrum of signing a new contract.
"I know there's an argument that players in his position will be looking for achievements in clubs and will be sort of dictating to clubs about what they have to do rather than what they have to do. It will be a disappointing day at Arsenal if they don't find the keys to the door to unlock the problem they've got with this kid signing a new contract.
Jordan went on to describe the idea of Saka leaving the Emirates as a 'massive failing' for technical director Edu and Arteta should it come to fruition. Jordan continued: "This would be a massive failing on the part of Edu, Arteta and anyone else at Arsenal that controls the direction of travel on this boy's career.
"The flip side is that he can control his own destiny, run down his contract, and Arsenal will still retain compensation if he does go because he is under 24. You'd like to think they could bottom this out and never let it run down to a contract that has no time left on it."
Jordan believes Saka should sign a new deal at the Emirates and continue his career at the Emirates, admitting 'player power' has become too strong. Jordan said: "He should sign a new contract, and they should want him to sign a new contract and find a solution to it.
"The balance of power has shifted towards players, and there needs to be a recalibration of that. It can't all be about players like [Kylian] Mbappe who suddenly start running football clubs, from who the director of football is to who the manager is.
"We are in that territory, it's not cool and not great for football. Arsenal should not sell him and deal with his contract and lock him down."
