Bukayo Saka is the first player born in the 21st century to start a competitive game for the Arsenal first team as well as being the first Arsenal youngster to make his Premier League debut, in the same season that he signed his scholarship deal since Jack Wilshere in the 2008/09 season.
Saka, 17, signed for the club after rejecting north London rivals Tottenham at the age of 9 and represents England at a youth level but also qualifies for Nigeria should he ever change alliances. He is a talented young winger who has also tried his hand as a left-back. Saka has had an outstanding season so far for Freddie Ljungberg’s under 23 side. The young man made his senior Arsenal debut in the Europa League against Vorska in a 20-minute cameo from the bench.
The Hale End product has made 27 appearances for Arsenal this season including two for the senior team in the Europa League. He has had 18 direct goal contributions in that time (10 goals, 8 assists) and has been described as a ‘Great talent’ by his manager Ljungberg.
⚽️ 10 goals
🎯 8 assists
🎥 season so far.
⭐️ @BukayoSaka87 pic.twitter.com/LBpuYTj1wv— TheAFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) February 25, 2019
Arsenal youth reporter Jeorge Bird spoke to theafcnewsroom regarding the latest talent to come through the Arsenal conveyor belt following the likes of Hector Bellerin and Alex Iwobi in recent seasons.
Jeorge Bird on the best four players in Arsenal’s youth right now: ‘ Xavier Amaechi, Sam Greenwood, Bukayo Saka and school boy Yunus Musah’.
Listen to the interview here:
