Arsenal: 3 main Bukayo Saka positives of England Euro 2020 call-up

It’s impossible not to be bursting with pride. A 26-man squad selected to try and win a major international tournament has Bukayo Saka in it. Arsenal will have an English representative in the 2020 European Championships and the 19-year-old couldn’t be any more deserving of it.

With the Premier League off-season underway, the majority of attention from supporters has been directed to the summer transfer window. Given the sheer volume of work that needs to be undertaken at Arsenal, this is of little surprise.

International tournament football is always a source of excitement, although rarely ever are Arsenal so under-represented as they will be for Euro 2020.

Just four of the current senior squad will be featuring, and two of those look like heading out of the exit door. Indeed, Bernd Leno’s future edges closer to being away from north London as the Gunners heavily pursue Andre Onana, while Granit Xhaka is also seeking an exit with Roma pushing hard for his signature.

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Arsenal: 3 main Bukayo Saka positives of England Euro 2020 call-up

That leaves Kieran Tierney, one of England’s Group D rivals, and now Bukayo Saka, who surprised a few by making the cut from 33 to 26 despite being the most versatile member of Gareth Southgate’s entire squad.

Seeing the Hale Ender’s performances dip in the final few weeks of the season instilled a sense of selfish desire among many. Going away on an international tournament is always special, but he’s played countless minutes across multiple positions this season with a backpack stuffed full of Arsenal Football Club the entire way.

If Saka weren’t to go it would ensure he gets some valuable and richly deserved rest, a similar emotion with Emile Smith Rowe who would have been at the Under-21 European Championship knockout stages were it not for the Three Lions’ failings in the group stages.

The star boy staying in the game and being part of the England camp is nothing but positive, however. This is glorious news for many reasons, with the three biggest listed here.

3. Bukayo Saka is Unlikely to Play for England

26 players in the squad and only 11 can start the matches. Simple stuff. Equally, no European football next season ensures Saka can be utilised in the 38 games that truly matter.

Southgate tends to have his favourites across the pitch and his decision to select four right-backs proves that he has plans in place for either a back four or a back five depending on the opposition. Saka’s inclusion in the squad has been decided because he is so flexible, whether as a left wing-back or in the forward line.

As much as we all love him, however, England are utterly spoiled in attack. It’s quite an astounding selection of talent: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford. Wide areas are packed full of magnificent options.

In the left-back slot it’s also difficult to look past Luke Shaw, who had arguably his best season for Manchester United, as well as Ben Chilwell who, despite being flawed, has just one a Champions League title and has improved as the season wore on.

That does not mean there will be no place for Saka at all, though. He’s in the squad for a reason. Rarely ever does he have a bad game and Southgate is a big fan of his, even keeping him in and around the team in the previous international break despite his injury. That was telling of his feelings on him in the squad.

Hopefully for the Three Lions, come matchday three against the Czech Republic, a spot in the knockout stages will be sewn up and Saka will get his chance. What will be the first of a long-standing England career.