Arsenal had a player very similar to Bukayo Saka but Wenger sold him for just £500k

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Former Arsenal attacker Donyell Malen has been named among players who share the closest profile to Bukayo Saka.

Our 22-year-old Englishman is one of the best players in the Premier League. He is a real star and could go on to become Hale End’s biggest success story in the coming years. Malen had a lot of potential when he was a part of Arsenal’s academy too.

Donyell Malen shares similar to Arsenal star Bukayo Saka

Donyell Malen spent two years in Arsenal‘s academy after joining us from Ajax in 2015.

The Dutchman was one of the most exciting players at Hale End back then. Everyone expected him to have a massive career at Arsenal, but his stay in North London wasn’t a long one.

Malen was desperate for first-team football in 2017, but Arsene Wenger wasn’t ready to give him that opportunity. That’s why he decided to leave and Arsenal sold him for just £500,000.

Now, CIES Football Observatory have released a list of players under the age of 25 who have the closest profile to Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.

The likes of Takefusa Kubo, Michael Olise and Lamine Yamal are all on the list, but much to everyone’s surprise, former Arsenal star Malen has made it too.

CIES believe the Dutchman is similar in profile to Saka.

Arsenal need to sign a backup for Saka

Bukayo Saka is Arsenal‘s only left-footed right-winger at the moment, and that has forced Mikel Arteta to use him in almost every single game.

The young Englishman has often looked tired and in need of rest recently, which is understandable when you consider the amount of football he has played over the last 18 months for club and country.

Arsenal should really consider signing a new right-winger to provide backup as well as some serious competition to Saka. That will make him even better.

We’re not fully sure about Malen because of how his career has panned out recently – he hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet.

There are, however, a few other really exciting names on the list above. For example, we’d love Crystal Palace star Michael Olise at Arsenal.