Arsenal: Bukayo Saka really is special

Bukayo Saka again produced an excellent performance in Arsenal’s 4-0 victory over Newcastle United. The 18-year-old really is special.

Arsenal have a fabulous young crop of players breaking into the first team. From second-highest goalscorer Gabriel Martinelli to the impassioned Matteo Guendouzi; from the deceptively young Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira and Nicolas Pepe to the burgeoning academy talents, there is a vast array of young players beginning to bloom.

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Seemingly every week, a different young player is blossoming. Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Martinelli, Guendouzi, Eddie Nketiah, Ainsley Maitland-Niles. They have all had their shining weeks when they are adorned in praise and ornamented with hope and expectation.

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But you could make a very fair argument that the most exciting of all the current prospects at the club is none of those, despite how encouraging their individual performances and campaigns have been. Of the many young Arsenal players that are currently forging first-team roles for themselves, Bukayo Saka might just be the best of the lot, and that really is saying something.

At just 18 years of age, Saka has shone throughout the year. From his breakout performance against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League to his admirable and intelligent displays at left-back under Mikel Arteta, Saka has routinely illustrated an awareness and ability far beyond his tender years.

While filling in at left-back in the meantime, Saka is naturally a wide attacker. It is why Arteta has slanted the position with such an offensive focus, to exploit Saka’s inherent attacking abilities and protect his defensive vulnerabilities. His performances in the role, then, are even more impressive.

Against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, Saka was again excellent. He struggled early on when pressed deep into his own area, which is to be expected given his defensive inexperience, but as Arsenal began to dominate the ball and control proceedings, allowing Saka to push further and further up the pitch, his attacking qualities began to impact the game.

His dribbling was direct, pacy and dangerous, he often looked to whip crosses into the penalty area, bending them behind the Newcastle backline. He linked with up well with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and shuttled the ball inside quickly when the opportunity to drive forward was not present. He also produced the best moment of skill in the entire match.

Faced with a two-on-one, Saka shaped up to cross the ball with his left foot, opening up the body positioning of Newcastle defender Valentino Lazaro. Feigning the cross, Saka then pulled the ball inside with his left foot, knocking it through the legs of Lazaro and racing behind the defender and into the penalty area. He then had the presence of mind to tee up Nicolas Pepe for the Gunners’ second goal of the game.

Per Opta, this was Saka’s eighth assist of the season in all competitions. No other teammate has more than six. He also has more assists than any other Premier League teenager and only Pepe, Martinelli, and Aubameyang have more direct goal involvements. That really is quite remarkable.

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Saka, then, is illustrating just how brilliant he can be. His ability is extraordinary, his potential wild, and his future under Arteta extremely bright. He really is special, and Arsenal are lucky to have him.

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