Bukayo Saka is one of the finest players Arsenal have produced over the years.
The England international came through the ranks at Hale End, broke into the first team and has now become one of the best wingers in the world.
Saka has all the qualities to become an Arsenal legend one day, which would be incredible for someone whose career started in the club’s youth setup.
Before the attacker, there were a few other big names who came out of the Arsenal academy. Saka loves one of them – Jack Wilshere.
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Arsenal star Bukayo Saka says Jack Wilshere is his ‘Hale End hero’
Hale End is up there with the best youth setups English football has ever seen.
The Arsenal academy hasn’t just produced the likes of Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman in recent years, they also developed huge names in the past.
The biggest of them all is arguably Tony Adams, who captained Arsenal and led them to three English league titles during his time there.
Other elite talents to come out of Hale End include Ashley Cole, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and Paul Merson – all before Saka was even born.
In a video on Sky Sports, Saka was asked to name his ‘Hale End hero’ and was given the choice to pick between Adams, Cole, Cesc Fabregas and Wilshere.
The England star replied: “They are all icons for me in different ways, but for me, in my journey, I’m going to go with Jack Wilshere.
“He’s the one I related to the most. He is the one that, growing up, made the dream feel possible for a lot of us in Hale End.
“He was the one we looked at, he was playing in the top games, we would go to the Emirates to watch him just bossing it. So I’m going to go with Jack.”
If they were never injured, who would’ve had the better career at Arsenal – Abou Diaby or Jack Wilshere?
Jack Wilshere could’ve been an Arsenal legend
Wilshere quickly became a fan favourite when he made his Arsenal first-team debut.
The midfielder was perfect for Arsene Wenger’s style, and the way he played, even against the big teams, brought a smile to every supporter’s face.
At the time, everyone expected Wilshere to become one of the best midfielders in the world and even don the captain’s armband for club and country one day.
That would’ve made him an Arsenal legend, but injuries ruined what could’ve been a phenomenal career at the top level.
Wilshere’s time at the Emirates came to an end in 2018, when Unai Emery allowed him to leave the club on a free transfer.
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