Mohamed Salah blamed for Liverpool

Thursday’s newspapers deliver two of the biggest stories of the week from England and Germany, painting contrasting pictures of stability at Arsenal and turbulence at Liverpool. On one side of North London, optimism is rising as Bukayo Saka moves close to agreeing a long-term contract extension that would anchor the club’s project for years. Meanwhile, across the Premier League landscape, the German press has ignited a firestorm by accusing Mohamed Salah of contributing to Liverpool’s attacking struggles and, more specifically, hindering the form of their blockbuster signing Florian Wirtz.

The headlines make for compelling reading — a club securing its crown jewel while another wrestles with expectations, pressure, and the challenges that come with integrating elite young talent.

Saka Set to Commit: Arsenal Move Toward Major Breakthrough in Contract Talks

Thursday’s English papers are dominated by the news that Bukayo Saka is closing in on a new contract extension with Arsenal, a development that has electrified the club’s supporters and strengthened the belief that the Gunners are building around one of the most influential young players in world football.

Negotiations have been ongoing for months, but recent reports describe the talks as being in their “final stages.” The deal would keep Saka at Arsenal until 2030, significantly longer than his current agreement and signalling a plan for long-term stability. The extension is also said to include a major wage increase — potentially placing Saka among the club’s top earners, a status that reflects both his importance and his consistency.

Arsenal’s hierarchy has been clear: Saka is a foundational piece.
Mikel Arteta has repeatedly praised his professionalism, mentality, and development, while also stressing that he is central to the club’s identity and future ambitions. At just 24, Saka has already become the face of the team’s resurgence, a homegrown player whose combination of maturity, technique, and leadership has elevated him to one of the Premier League’s standout performers.

The extension would represent far more than an administrative milestone. It is a symbolic statement that Arsenal intend to protect and build around their academy stars, ensuring that their best talent remains in North London despite rising interest from Europe’s elite. It also reflects Saka’s own belief in the project — a commitment to the manager, the philosophy, and the club’s forwards trajectory.

The mood around the Emirates is buoyant. Thursday’s reports have been interpreted as the clearest sign yet that Arsenal’s long-term planning is aligned, decisive, and ambitious.

German Media Targets Salah: A Surprising Twist in Liverpool’s Wirtz Problem

While Arsenal celebrate stability, Liverpool are dealing with a storm stirred by the German media. Major outlets in Germany have suggested that Mohamed Salah is partly responsible for the struggles of Liverpool’s new midfield star Florian Wirtz, a narrative that has sharply divided opinion on both sides of the Channel.

Wirtz, who arrived at Liverpool for a massive fee and with immense expectations, has endured a difficult start to life in England. Despite flashes of brilliance, his impact has been muted, and frustration has begun to grow among supporters and analysts. However, the German press has taken a more pointed stance — placing blame on Liverpool’s established stars, with Salah’s name appearing prominently.

According to Thursday’s reports, Wirtz is struggling to adapt not because of his own shortcomings, but due to a lack of support and synergy with key senior players. The argument is that Salah’s presence, influence, and style of play limit Wirtz’s ability to take on the central creative role he thrived in at Bayer Leverkusen. Instead of becoming the attacking leader Liverpool hoped for, Wirtz is seen as being overshadowed, unable to impose himself within a system still shaped heavily around the Egyptian superstar.

The discussion intensified after Joachim Nagelsmann, Germany’s national team coach, went out of his way to defend Wirtz, suggesting that the young playmaker is creating opportunities but his teammates are not converting them. His comments were interpreted as a subtle criticism of Liverpool’s forwards — amplifying the scrutiny on Salah, who remains the most influential attacker at Anfield.

The narrative has sparked debate among pundits. Some argue the criticism is unfair, pointing to Liverpool’s tactical transitions and the natural adjustment period required for a 21-year-old entering a different league. Others insist the criticisms may reflect deeper issues within Liverpool’s attacking chemistry, especially as the club transitions to a new generation of players.

Regardless of the truth, one fact is clear: Wirtz’s form will remain under the microscope, and Salah has found himself unexpectedly at the centre of the conversation.

Two Clubs, Two Trajectories

The contrast between Arsenal and Liverpool is stark.
At the Emirates, the mood is one of confidence and clarity. A key player is about to commit his future, the project looks united, and the club appears to be reinforcing its foundations without turbulence.

At Anfield, however, the story is more complicated. Liverpool are attempting to navigate a transition between eras — balancing the legacies of stars like Salah with the integration of emerging talents such as Wirtz. The scrutiny is inevitable, but the sharp rhetoric from Germany has added a new layer of pressure to the situation.

Both stories, though different in tone, underline the relentless scrutiny that comes with elite football in Europe.
Arsenal’s stability and Liverpool’s uncertainty form two compelling chapters in the wider narrative of Premier League clubs shaping their futures in real time.