Arsenal: Bukayo Saka simply refuses to be shoved aside

Bukayo Saka has not had an easy climb into Arsenal regularity, and it’s not going to get any easier. But this young man continues to poke his head above the pile.

Bukayo Saka is looking an awful lot like Ainsley Maitland-Niles these days, but the Arsenal man continues to weather blows to his immediate standing by just being a phenomenal all-around performer no matter where on the pitch he has to play.

And he’s just one of the multitude of guys who can say that exact same thing. Though it has to be said that Saka is being moved and stretched the most.

It’s a fun time to be an Arsenal fan, despite the midtable standing. With Mikel Arteta in charge and a wealth of youth options growing up around the veteran core, so many players are right on the cusp of superstardom. And it’s never the same guy twice.

Surprisingly, most of that excitement is centered on the wings, a position once seemingly abandoned at the club. Maybe it was abandoned because of the knowledge of what was to come. Who knows.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

But for Saka, he is keeping some pretty lofty company. Competing for time with him are Nicolas Pepe, the most expensive signing in club history; Gabriel Martinelli, the most exciting player at the club; and Reiss Nelson, who can never be counted out.

Yet of all those players, Saka who has the most assists. Saka has the most starts next to Pepe. Saka has the most minutes next to Pepe and when you look at what they bring to the table, it was Saka who went toe-to-toe with Pepe when Unai Emery was still in charge.

Now, at left back, Saka is continuing to thrive out of position and making me forget that Kieran Tierney is even here. Saka has been absolutely tremendous despite all the forces that keep trying to shove him out of the way.

There will come a time in the near future when Tierney and Sead Kolasinac are back. One might be concerned that Saka will lose out on playing time. But I’m not worried. Because every time you try to shove this kid, he reemerges on top of the pile yet again.

No doubt about it, this kid is something special. And all these hits he’s had to weather are only going to help him grow into one hell of a professional athlete.