Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka set for deserved England start vs Denmark

It’s hard to come up with the words to describe how special the feeling is of seeing Bukayo Saka play for England. A Hale End graduate who bleeds Arsenal on the biggest stage. As magical as this story is, it’s not over yet.

Watching Bukayo Saka put in a man of the match performance against Czech Republic as England secured top spot in their group, all of an Arsenal affiliation could sit back and watch the rest of the world finally take notice of the 19-year-old affectionately labelled ‘star boy’.

The fanbase is sitting and fretting over possible new signings and potential outgoings, whether there is any money to play with or whether those in charge should be trusted. Saka has provided some respite. England have.

The only side yet to conceded a goal in the European Championships have set up their stall to keep things tight and let the forwards express themselves with full-back support. There are few players in the country who you could set out to go and play their own game in such a way and still be comforted by the intelligence they possess.

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka set for deserved England start vs Denmark as 19-year-old forward prepares for European Championship semi-final

Like watching Pedri for Spain, how Saka’s footballing brain has developed at the rate it has despite him still being a teenager is why Gareth Southgate has trusted him. It’s why he’s trusting him again in a major international semi-final against Denmark. It’s why the nation trusts him.

He’s won the hearts of his teammates at camp and rival supporters who’ve come to terms with not everything Arsenal fans saying being complete hyperbole. Beyond that, he frightens the opponent.

It’s not just the way he reads matches as they evolve or maneuvers himself into spaces and angles where he can penetrate lines and hurt defences, it’s the outstanding quality he boasts to put all that thought process into action.

12 months ago he didn’t make it off the bench in either of Arsenal’s Wembley wins en route to lifting the FA Cup. Here he now, as The Athletic reveal, being selected ahead of Manchester duo Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden as one of the final four (three) countries left in the European Championships.

Saka deserves this. Nobody can dispute that. What he produces, whether in red and white or plain white, is on a level unseen in academy players of his age who only 21 months ago made their full Premier League debuts.

Even tactically he is the best option against one of the standout players of this tournament, Joakim Maehle. He can exploit the spaces in behind him just like he did Robin Gosens. The job he did on the German has not been heralded enough and his ability to fluctuate between wing-back and wide forward will be vital against the Danes.

The crowd adore him and he’ll get them off their seats. He’ll drive his team forward and pin Denmark back. Saka is in this team on merit and merit alone.

He’s riding an inflatable swimming pool unicorn to footballing virtuosity.