Since Arsene Wenger’s departure last summer, a number of Arsenals academy graduates have been showing their worth to new head coach Unai Emery. While Reiss Nelson has displayed moments of brilliance during his loan spell at Hoffenheim, the Europa League has given Emery the chance to blood some of the club’s other youngsters.
Emile Smith-Rowe got supporters talking from as early as pre-season with a goal against La Liga giants Atletico Madrid. Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah have followed on from last season’s sporadic involvement. Perhaps the most exciting player to emerge from the youth teams this term, Bukayo Saka, has shown huge promise. In this individual tactical analysis, we’ll discover why fans are so excited.
Background
Despite being eligible to play for Nigeria, Saka was born in London. He joined the Arsenal academy at the age of eight and began representing England at under-16 level. Having only signed his scholarship deal over the summer, Saka has seen himself fast-tracked into the first-team set-up for this campaign.
He has played just over 650 minutes for Freddie Ljungberg’s under-23s, scoring two and assisting three. He has also risen to England under-19 level in the space of just a few months, even scoring on his debut against Moldova.
His involvement with Unai Emery’s senior team has been minimal so far but nevertheless impressive. Saka’s first start came against Qarabag in the Europa League, earning the man-of-the-match award for his performance.
“It’s a dream come true. I didn’t start too fast but I grew into the game, started to beat my man and create chances.”
On New Years Day, Saka reached another milestone by making his first appearance in the Premier League, becoming the first player born in 2001 to do so.
Positional Versatility
Against Qarabag, Saka operated mainly on the left wing in a 4-3-3. However, he regularly switched flanks, and even looked to receive the ball in the 10 space on occasion. The heat map below illustrates his positional fluidity during that game.
Although predominantly left-footed, the England youth international is also comfortable with his right. His qualities in 1v1 scenarios, as well as his ability to create and score goals, make him adaptable to a variety of roles. While he mainly operates as a wide-man or number 10, he can also fill in effectively at left-back.
This level of versatility should serve him well when it comes to gaining first-team minutes. However, his talents are likely to be exploited in a more attacking position as he continues to develop.
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