Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes Bukayo Saka has a lot of room for improvement despite his unreal consistency. Saka has played a major role in Arsenal’s eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League, scoring 12 goals and earning 10 assists in 28 appearances. Only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have more goals and assists in the Premier League this season than Saka, who has also shone on the international scene with England, excelling at the World Cup and scoring a beautiful goal in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Ukraine. Arteta has started Saka in all of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season, and talks over a new contract to replace the one that expires in 2024 are ongoing.
“First and foremost, I feel you must recognize what he has been doing and the consistency he has demonstrated at his age and at this level, which is remarkable for someone his age and at this level. He dealt with it normally,” Mikel Arteta said about Bukayo Saka. “If you ask me if he has space for improvement, I’d say he has a lot. He’s never happy, he’s always looking for more, and he still has the ability to accomplish a lot of things better and more effectively. Yet we are overjoyed to have him.”
Kolo Toure, a former Arsenal defender who was part of the Invincibles, the Gunners’ last Premier League title-winning team in 2004, believes his old club should persuade Saka to stay at the Emirates for the next decade.
“The first piece of advice I would give Arsenal is to sign Bukayo Saka to a 10-year contract,” Toure said. “In my opinion, Arsenal made a few mistakes by letting go of homegrown players or key players who actually cared about the squad. You must retain those players because they will lead the team for you. They are the players you can count on.”
Saka is a ‘big moment’ player who excels at vital moments in important football games. He is not the player who scores a hat-trick against a bottom-of-the-league opponent or who scores the seventh goal in a 7-0 victory. He’s getting the first goal, the equalizer, or the winner at Arsenal. He’s getting help at vital times.
For more football news, click here
