Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the positive impact of Bukayo Saka as he prepares to make his 200th club appearance in Tuesday night’s Premier League trip to Luton Town.
The 22-year-old Anglo-Nigerian has been ever-present for the North London outfit since making debut in 2018 at the age of 17 and has gone on to score 46 goals, including the last game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and provided 51 assists.
He was also instrumental in Arsenal’s charge for the Premier League title last season and return to the Champions League after seven years which led him to being awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year and was also named in the team of the year.
Arteta is pleased Saka is reaching such a milestone at such an early stage of his career.
“That’s not bad at his age! It’s gone really fast but it shows again the consistency and the availability that he has had over the last few years,” Arteta told the club website.
“It has been tremendous and the impact that he’s had in the team has been really positive”
Bukayo Saka scores our 100th goal in 2023 ???? pic.twitter.com/D2KAqETdjd
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 3, 2023
Arteta said further about Saka’s development under his watch: “It’s like watching a kid raise, and get older, mature and evolve. And he still has the same humility and willingness to get better and better and get to know the people close to him in his life, and the impact they have on him.
“All the academy people who worked with him as well over the years to make him the player he is today, they have to take a huge compliment of who Bukayo is today. And then let him be. Bukayo is a special guy, we have him with us hopefully for many years to come.”
Saka has scored eight goals and provided 11 assists in 20 competitive appearances this season which sees Arsenal sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League and also through to the Champions League knockout phase.
