Arsenal fans made a clear gesture towards star centre-back William Saliba after hammering Wolves 5-0 on the final day of the season. In a day that centred around the seeming departure of Granit Xhaka, there was also a nod to the future of the club as well as its past and present.
Xhaka was serenaded throughout the game, expected to be his last for the club as a transfer to Germany looms, and was applauded off the field with a standing ovation. The Gunners' faithful then made their point perfectly clear, chanting: "Granit Xhaka, we want you to stay."
On top of that they also honoured his seven years of service with a banner wishing him farewell on his way and his teammates responded with celebrations accordingly. With his two goals came a true end-of-season atmosphere and a performance worthy of a successful season on the pitch.
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Xhaka isn't the only player whose future isn't tied to Arsenal in the long-term, though. His deal ends in 2024, giving the club 12 months of leeway even with a move to Germany approaching on the horizon. Also in the same camp is William Saliba.
The dominating centre-back has an option to extend that deal for another year but is expected to sign a fresh deal just as Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale have in the past fortnight. After a debut season that elevated the club on to unlikely title challengers, Saliba is now seen as central to the future of the club.
His injury against Sporting CP in the Europa League was the start of a downfall that saw the season collapse quickly for Arteta and his players but there is no bad feeling with supporters showing love for Saliba with chants and applause as he went around the ground for the lap of honour.
There had been hope that he would return to the team by the end of the season but that was cut short several weeks before the campaign finished and he is now being prepared to be fully fit for next season instead. By that time there are hopes that he will be committed to the club contractually for the foreseeable future.
It's certainly clear that the fans want it to happen and teammate Gabriel Martinelli is in the same camp. He bowed down to Saliba during the formalities at the end of the game. After a season of such success for the Brazilian, it is quite the nod to just how good Saliba has been, too.
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