Bukayo Saka now praises ‘really special’ man for what he did at Arsenal in 2018

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Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has been nothing short of sensational since his breakthrough from academy to the first-team, and he is arguably the most popular player at the club.

Saka was a left-winger at youth level, and initially broke into the team in that position, before being deployed as a left-back and later a right-winger.

The 22-year-old made his official Arsenal debut in November 2018, as Unai Emery’s side lined up for a Europa League group stage game against Vorskla Poltava.

The Arsenal lineup that day featured the likes of Stefan Lichtsteiner and Aaron Ramsey, but Saka has praised Emery for giving him his initial debut at the club.

Bukayo Saka praises Unai Emery for Arsenal debut

Speaking to TNT Sports, Saka praised Emery for giving Saka his debut, and the confidence to develop into a first-team player.

“For me, it was really special. “I can never forget him – he’s the one that gave me my debut,” he stated.

“Obviously you can see all the work put in to get to that stage. He gave me that moment and gave me a lot of confidence as well.

“He gave me so many more appearances so I’m always grateful to him. I’m really happy for him. Every time we play against him, I always try and say hello to him and say thank you as well.

“He was a really nice man and a really nice coach as well and I enjoyed my time under him.”

Bukayo Saka under Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta

Although Emery initially gave Saka his debut in a dead-rubber Europa League tie, his true development came a year later as Mikel Arteta arrived at the club.

Freddie Ljungberg had given Saka gametime at left-back following injuries to Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac before Arteta came in, but the Spaniard then transformed the England International.

Saka continued at left-back initially, before then lining up in a surprise central midfield role as Arsenal returned from lockdown against Manchester City and Brighton.

He then moved to the right wing to score his first Premer League goal against Wolves, and then became a first-team regular in attack after a stunning performance in the Community Shield against Liverpool was rewarded with an England call-up.

Saka appeared 15 times under Emery, scoring once in a Europa League game against Frankfurt. He then appeared four times under Ljungberg, also scoring against Standard Liege, before then making 187 appearances under Arteta, and has notched up 45 goals and 47 assists so far.