Arsenal Rising Star Reveals What He Learned From Mikel Arteta

Amid his successful run with Arsenal, Bukayo Saka has revealed how Mikel Arteta helped him improve his game.

Saka has played a variety of positions for the Gunners since his senior debut in November 2018. According to the Arsenal youngster, much of his versatility and overall improvement should be credited to his first-team coach, Arteta.

“He’s amazing for me,” Saka recently told England’s official YouTube channel. “Since he’s come in I feel like my game has gone to the next level, he’s unlocked a bit of my potential and hopefully, he can unlock more. I’ve played in so many different positions that I never imagined I could play in.”

The 19-year-old is naturally comfortable playing as a winger. However, Saka revealed that Arteta bolsters his game by teaching him new “stuff” that works well for him.

“Growing up I’ve always been out on the wing, either at left-back or left-wing, but now he’s [Arteta] taught me how to play more inside, how to receive, how to turn and stuff like that,” he added. “I’m so happy to be working with him, he’s a good coach.”

Arteta, meanwhile, has been impressed with Saka’s work ethic. Aside from Arsenal, the Gunners boss thinks Saka is also capable of competing in the international stage.

”Bukayo is always pushing. Pushing in every training [session], pushing every game, he’s pushing the way he conducts himself,” Arteta recently told reporters at a press conference.

“First of all I am delighted for him, I think he completely deserves the chance to represent his country,” the Arsenal manager continued. “He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing and he will keep evolving.”

Saka received his first England call-up on Oct. 1 and is now officially representing his country. Ahead of Saka’s international league debut, England manager Gareth Southgate had expressed excitement over the teenager’s potential.

“We’ve been impressed with his progress through our system,” Southgate said of Saka. “I thought at times for Arsenal last year, at times really exciting. Still very young, still learning, of course, but improving all the time. High potential, real good quality.”

“Everybody that’s worked with him tells me he’s a very level-headed, intelligent boy,” the national team boss added. “So it’s an area of the pitch we’re keen to look at a different profile of player. He can play a number of different roles very comfortably. We’re excited by what he’s done there. We’re excited by the potential there, we think he can flourish as he gets older.”

Saka’s glittering run with Unai Emery last season, where he scored four goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions, earned him a new contract with Arsenal. In the 2019-20 Premier League season, he scored one goal and completed five assists in 19 starts and seven substitute appearances for the Gunners.