Arsenal: Bukayo Saka can go all the way

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka excelled in another start on Monday night against Manchester United. The 18-year-old attacker has all the skills to go all the way.

It is very easy to go over the top about young players and their future. It took Reiss Nelson about five minutes and four touches in a pre-season friendly in Australia for fans to anoint him as the next world-class winger. As a result, I am always a little tentative to eagerly praise their performances and their talent, especially when it is based on small sample sizes.

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All that being said, in recent weeks, Bukayo Saka is proving that he has everything any young player needs to become a truly elite wide attacking player.

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The Arsenal prospect made his second successive Premier League start on Monday night at Old Trafford — irrespective of his performance on the night, that he was trusted in such a massive is impressive enough. After the match, head coach Unai Emery did not hold back in his praise for Saka:

"“I think he’s working and improving, being mature and also playing matches in front of each player and each team as tonight against Manchester United. But his work is natural and he is improving. He is helping us now as an important player. We are going to work with him with him with calm, with patience, but if he deserves to take minutes and to take confidence for helping us with his performance, that is fantastic for us.”"

And there is good reason to be so positive about his performance. Saka was excellent.

He maintained an 87% pass completion rate, which is very high for both an attacking player and young prospect, created two chances (a team-high), assisted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal with an excellent, quick-thinking pass, was fouled three times, completed two of his five dribble attempts (both team highs), and also attempted and won a team-high tackles.

And more than just the statistics, his overall play improved as the game progressed. He held of possession when under pressure, gained the confidence to dribble past players, played with a directness and purpose that is often missing in Arsenal’s attacking play. In summary, he was one of the best players on the pitch. At 18. At Old Trafford. In only his second league and third start this season.

Again, I do not want to get too excited, and I also do not want to draw long-term conclusions from short-term occurrences, but this was the type of performance that a bonafide star produces. And more than that. He is beginning to back it up. He has now created 11 chances this season, the second-most in the squad behind Nicolas Pepe and has one goal and three assists in 216 minutes.

Bukayo Saka can go all the way. He can be the starring wide attacker that Arsenal have been searching for. Equally, he can flame out. There is a long way to go, but in terms of talent, the Gunners have a genuine star on their hands.