Arsenal centre-back William Saliba said he has signed a new five-year contract at the club because boss Mikel Arteta and his staff can help him become the best defender in the world.

The 24-year-old France international’s previous deal was scheduled to expire in June 2027 and speculation had linked him with being a target for Real Madrid.

“The boss is one of the best coaches in the world,” said Saliba. “He has helped me a lot, him and his staff, so I’m so happy to have them as a coach.

“I’m 24 now, and I think I haven’t reached my peak. I have a lot of things to improve, a lot of things to give to this team, and I know that the coach and the staff will help me to become the best, or one of the best, defenders in the world and win trophies.”

Saliba joined the Gunners from Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne in July 2019 and was loaned back to the French club for the 2019-20 season before having further loan spells in Ligue 1 at Nice and Marseille.

He made his Arsenal debut in August 2022 and has established himself as a key member of the side, making 105 league appearances for the Gunners, scoring six goals and registering two assists.

“Since joining us, William has grown so much, embraced responsibility, and has created a strong connection with our supporters and everyone at the club,” said Arteta.

“We know there is still so much to come from him and will continue to work together to keep improving with the clear ambition of winning major trophies.”

Saliba follows centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes, who extended his Gunners deal until 2029 in June, in committing to the north London club.

The announcement of Saliba’s new deal comes following a last-gasp win at Newcastle United on Sunday which moved the Gunners second in the Premier League and just two points behind leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta added: “In the last three seasons, William has become an incredible defender whose composure, intelligence and physical presence make him one of the best in the world.

“He will continue his development with Arsenal to reach new heights.”

Former Liverpool and Wolves defender Conor Coady, who is now at Wrexham, told our source on Sunday that Saliba signing a new deal will be a relief for Arsenal.

“Whenever I have played against William Saliba, he has played way beyond his years,” said Coady.

“When players are running down their deals, it is in their hands – they have the power and control.

“Arsenal will be thinking, ‘thank God he has signed’.

“To have these players in the Premier League is huge for our country. Teams circling, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid – they’re tough to turn down.

“For him to do that and want to stay at Arsenal, I think is brilliant for him and the football club.”

Amir Khan has had a career many boxers dream of.

Olympic silver at 17. Unified world title in his 20s. Unforgettable nights with Marcos Maidana, Zab Judah and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

And then, years later, reality TV infamy with his own documentary, not forgetting his role in I’m a Celebrity’s strawberry-gate.

Now the former champion has swapped fight nights and jungle antics for a new adventure.

Today, Khan will bring top-tier professional boxing to Nigeria for the first time on the country’s Independence Day, when the streets of Lagos will be alive with parades, music and national pride.

“You can imagine all the hype. Everyone will have a day off and will want to come,” Khan tells Tidesports source from his home in Dubai.

The event, called Chaos in the Ring, is being promoted by Khan’s AK Promotions in partnership with African-based Balmoral Group Promotions.

It follows his debut card in Ghana earlier this year, but Khan believes Lagos will be even bigger.

“I’m still new to the game but I want to learn quick and move quick,” he says. “Why Africa? I think it’s an untouched market.”

A cruiserweight encounter between Brandon Glanton and Marcus Browne headlines, while British light-heavyweight Dan Azeez will tick off a bucket list fight by boxing on Nigerian soil.

Taking fighters back to their roots is a key theme of Khan’s promotion.

Earlier this year, Londoner Ohara Davies boxed in Ghana, where his parents are from.

It is something Khan himself never had the chance to do. The son of Pakistani parents who emigrated to the UK, he has always spoken with pride about his heritage and the bond it gave him with fans in South Asia.

“If I had the opportunity to fight in Pakistan, that would have been amazing,” he says.

Khan admits moving into promotion has been a learning curve.

He expected tough negotiations but soon realised the scale of the challenge with fighters demanding inflated purses, games of bluff and brinkmanship.

“It’s like a game of chess,” he says. Yet his own career gives him perspective and hope.

Khan headlined shows from Las Vegas to Madison Square Garden, fought under every major promoter and became one of a handful of British boxers to truly cross into the mainstream.

He hopes that experience, knowing both the glamour and the grind, will help him build shows fighters can trust.

“I’m not expecting to make anything in the next couple of years as a promoter. I’m happy to roll the dice because I want to learn the trade as I go,” he says.

For now, his plan is to grow the sport in Africa and the Middle East, before breaking back into the UK market when the timing is right.

He also dreams of staging fights in Saudi Arabia as part of the lucrative Riyadh Season.

But to do that, he knows he needs support.

Khan is calling on broadcasters, co-promoters and former allies to show him the same loyalty he once gave them.

“I made them millions, let’s see if they do the same for me now,” he adds.

Atletico Madrid scored five goals against city rivals Real for the first time in nearly 75 years when they fought back from behind in a pulsating derby.

It was only the fourth time Atletico had scored at least five in a Madrid derby, the last occasion being a 6-3 victory in November 1950.

Real lost for the first time this season, having won all six of their opening La Liga matches as well as their first Champions League tie, a 2-1 victory over Marseille.

The last time Real conceded as many in La Liga was a 5-1 defeat by Barcelona in October 2018.

Robin le Normand’s header had given Diego Simeone’s side an early lead that was overturned by superb goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler.

But Alexander Sorloth levelled the game at 2-2 in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

And the hosts took charge after the break when Julian Alvarez, who had hit the post in the first half, converted from the penalty spot before curling home a brilliant free-kick.

Atletico went into their shell, but held their cross-city rivals at bay until Antoine Griezmann grabbed their fifth goal deep into stoppage time.

The result maintained an impressive record against Real in La Liga for Simeone’s side, who have not lost in their past six league encounters with Los Blancos.

PSG Regain Top Position In France (7)

Paris St-Germain returned to the top of Ligue 1 with a comfortable victory over Auxerre at the weekend.

Illia Zabarnyi scored his first goal for the club since his summer move from Bournemouth when he volleyed in at the back post from Vitihna’s cross at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

The home side doubled their lead when Lucas Beraldo headed home from Senny Mayulu’s cross.

PSG moved above Marseille, who beat them on Monday, as they made it five wins from their opening six league matches.

Auxerre had their chances, with a fierce shot from Kevin Danois striking the woodwork and Sekou Mara having a header cleared off the line.

There were further opportunities for Luis Enrique’s side but Achraf Hakimi’s dink was ruled out for offside and Bradley Barcola sent a header over the bar.

Auxerre are 13th in the table with four defeats from six matches.

PSG travel to Barcelona on Wednesday in their second Champions League group stage match.

Before the PSG match, Marseille scored two late goals to move level on points with hosts Strasbourg and go top of Ligue 1 on goal difference.

Strasbourg looked on track to move four points clear at the top until the 78th minute as Abdoul Ouattara’s goal had them ahead.

But former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the equaliser, and Amir Murillo completed the turnaround as the clock ticked into added time.

Aubameyang was first to the rebound following his own shot to level the score after goalkeeper Mike Penders spilled the initial shot.

Penders, on loan from Chelsea, seemed to have done better in stoppage time when he tipped substitute Robinio Vaz’s header onto the crossbar, but the rebound landed with Murillo.

Marseille were top with five teams all on 12 points, including Strasbourg who were in fifth place.

Kane Sets Elite Scoring Record With Bayern  (5)

Harry Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s win over Werder Bremen last Friday to become the fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for a club playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

The England captain won and converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time, before firing home from close range in the 65th minute to reach the century mark in just 104 games.

The previous record of 105 games was set by Cristiano Ronaldo while playing for Real Madrid in 2011, and matched by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland last year.

Former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz had opened the scoring when he deflected in a Jonathan Tah flick from a corner, while Konrad Laimer slipped home a late fourth as leaders Bayern preserved their unbeaten start to the season.

Kane broke two other records in his side’s 4-1 victory against Hoffenheim last weekend, during which he scored a hat-trick.

He reached 70 Bundesliga goals in just his 67th game in the competition, faster than anyone else in the league’s history.

Previously, the 32-year-old broke the record for the most goals scored in 50 Bundesliga games (54 goals), and the fewest number of games needed to reach 50 goals in the competition (43 matches).

On Friday, Kane also became the first player in Bundesliga history to convert their first 18 penalties, as well as score 18 consecutive spot-kicks.

Kane was the first player in Bundesliga history to finish top scorer in both his first two seasons, and the only player to score 25 or more goals in their first two campaigns in the competition.

He has started this campaign with 15 in eight games in all competitions – including two hat-tricks in five Bundesliga games, with Vincent Kompany’s side top of the league table with a 100% record.

Kane is the highest scoring Englishman in Champions League history (42 goals), and scored against all 20 teams he has faced in the Bundesliga.

Only Miroslav Klose has played against more sides, while scoring against all of them (28).

Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in a £100m transfer in 2023, having scored 280 goals in 435 games in all competitions for the Premier League club.

He has two years remaining on the four-year contract he signed with the Munich outfit, although he has recently been linked with former club Spurs and Manchester United.

But when asked on Friday if he was thinking of a Premier League return, Kane said: “No, not at the moment. I’m really happy here. I have two years left on my contract.

“I’m enjoying every moment. That is not in my thought process. I’m enjoying it with the team, with the coach, and hopefully we continue to be successful.”