‘He Has Earned the Respect’- Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Defends Bukayo Saka

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka was one of the best young players in the Premier League last season. The 19-year-old continued his incredible form in the Euros as well as he continued to create chances for others and impressed everyone.

But the young star’s tournament came to a brutal end, as Saka missed the last and most crucial penalty as England crashed out of the Euros. Given how crushing the Finals loss was, Saka was subject to multiple criticisms.

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Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta defends Bukayo Saka

While the 19-year-old has had his critiques after his disappointing end to the Euros, head coach Mikel Arteta certainly is all praises for the young winger. Arteta who has played a pivotal role in Saka’s development.

In a recent interview, the Spaniard was all praises for the winger’s performance in the 2020-21 season. “I think you have to look at the whole picture. This kid at 19 years old, he played almost every game in the Premier League. He was our Player of the Season. And he has earned the respect or admiration of everybody at the football club.”

He added, “But not only that, he is going to an international stage; he started the European competition with an injury. And still he has managed to be in the starting 11. He reached the final and he couldn’t lift that trophy. But I think he has a much bigger trophy than that.

Arteta added, “Everybody at the club, every arsenal fan and every English fan is right behind him…. What he has achieved and how he has united people, I think is very powerful and he should be really, really proud of that.”

Saka is certainly one of the most important players for the Gunners as well as the English national team. With his incredible versatility, Saka can be deployed as a wing back or can excel as a primary winger as well.

Given the talent Saka has shown as a 19-year-old, the winger is set to excel with the London side. While Arsenal have their fair share of wingers, Saka might be given the starting role in the team. Can Saka and a young and rejuvenated core of young players lead Arsenal to a top 4 finish next season?