MIKEL ARTETA is increasingly confident that Arsenal will tie down Bukayo Saka to a new long-term deal.
But the Gunners boss admitted that the longer uncertainty rumbles on, it could lead to the England star taking his eye off the ball.
And Manchester City are waiting to pounce, with Pep Guardiola viewing Saka as the ideal man to replace Raheem Sterling after his shock switch to Chelsea.
Arteta said: "I am very confident that we as a club and Bukayo, his family, his agent, everybody, we are very much aligned in what we want to achieve.
"And now it is about putting it on a piece of paper.
"I would like that to get done, because I don't want the player or anybody else distracted while we are in the middle of the season.
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"But those things take time and they have to go through the right process, and I think the process has been really good."
Arsenal have already offered terms that would make forward Saka one of their top earners.
The 20-year-old still has two years remaining on his current contract.
The academy star is viewed as one of the club's crown jewels and is adored by Gunners fans.
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Losing him would be a huge blow, as Arteta attempts to mould a team that can finally compete for the title and get back into the Champions League.
Landing Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from City were huge coups for the club.
But losing Saka would have fans fearing another false dawn at the Emirates.
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