Bukayo Saka knows more than most what it means to play in a North London Derby, having gone from an Arsenal fan to an Arsenal player.
Saka has so many fond memories of the North London Derby, a collection that he seems to be adding to every time he plays Tottenham.
The winger has recorded a goal contribution in his previous four matches against Spurs, making him the man that Thomas Frank will spend a lot of time revising ahead of Sunday’s contest.
First and foremost, Saka will want three points; then, the 24-year-old will be eager to score; however, his greatest challenge for the fixture is something he’s yet to experience.
Bukayo Saka is the perfect captain for the North London Derby
With Martin Odegaard out of action, Saka is next in line to wear the armband, meaning he is the prime candidate to walk the Gunners out at the Emirates as captain.
The role of captain becomes even more important when the North London Derby happens, as emotions are high and the requirement for a level-headed leader becomes more crucial than ever.
It’s not only composure that captains require in the derby, but passion too, which is why Odegaard’s omission could actually be a blessing in disguise.
Saka has something that the Norwegian doesn’t, and that’s a lifelong association with Arsenal, a quality that means everything to hammer home the importance of a derby.
Thierry Henry said it himself, those who are Arsenal through and through make the dressing room a different space on derby day.
Speaking to Sky Sports back in 2017, the Arsenal legend recalled what it was like behind the scenes before facing Tottenham.
“You always have guys in the dressing room that have been at the club for a very long time, and it hyped up the game,” Henry recalled.
The impact that his Arsenal-loving teammates had on him clearly worked, as Henry never lost against Tottenham, giving Saka’s role on Sunday a new level of importance to get those who don’t have experience in the contest up to speed.
Saka and Emile Smith Rowe’s magical North London Derby memory
Saka isn’t likely to take a Tony Adams approach, as Lee Dixon once recalled Adams having him ‘up against the wall by the throat’ to relay the message that losing against Spurs wasn’t an option.
What the Arsenal academy graduate will do, however, is influence his teammates in a way that he learned the importance of the derby: by translating his wildest dreams into reality.
In 2024, Saka spoke to Sky Sports to reminisce on his first-ever goal against Tottenham, sharing that he and fellow academy product Emile Smith Rowe had spoken about the idea before the game.
“I remember we were speaking the day before: ‘Just imagine how it would feel to score in the derby’, then first action, he scores, I couldn’t believe it,” Saka said.
When rewatching Smith Rowe’s goal, Saka admitted that he felt happier for his former teammate than he did himself.
“I think I was more happy when he scored than when I scored, I swear.”
It was a heartwarming account from Saka, one that will arm the winger with the emotion needed to hammer home the true magic of the North London Derby to his teammates on Sunday.
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