Arteta was ‘convinced’ that Arsenal star would not blossom at left back | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says he was ‘convinced’ that Bukayo Saka would not reach his potential as a full back, and soon realised he would offer the team more value in attacking positions.

Saka will be the sole survivor of Arteta’s first game in charge against Bournemouth five years ago going into the Premier League fixture with Manchester United on Sunday, with Reiss Nelson on loan at Fulham.

Asked if he thought in his first game in charge that Saka would go on to become the player he is today, the Gunners boss honestly said: “That day? No.

“Day by day, the moment that I started to understand him and see the skill set and the relationship that he could generate in the team, I was convinced that long-term, medium-term, [that] wasn’t his position and the team needed another kind of threat, creativity and that he could provide those moments.

“Slowly we moved him, first to the left, then to the right, and then we start to see naturally that it was the position that he was feeling more comfortable and we were consistent there.”

Five Years On

Half a decade on from the 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium, Saka is without doubt one of Arsenal’s most important players alongside Martin Ødegaard.

The England international has gone on to become one of the Premier League’s best players and demonstrated that again with one goal and two assists in the 5-2 win over West Ham.

That took the 23-year-old’s tally to 15 goal involvements in the Premier League so far this season, notching five times and providing ten assists.

Ahead of the visit of Ruben Amorim’s side to the Emirates, Arteta has praised the 23-year-old for his maturity on and off the pitch.

“The way he presents himself, the way he talks, the decisions that he makes, that he’s got a massive role in the team,” Arteta added.

“He’s the main figure with two or three players at the club. He plays for the national team.

“He’s a very established player right now and he’s deciding football matches for us.

“So he has the right to act and be that way, but at the same time, he’s still so humble, close and charming to everybody.”