Arsenal have a real talent on their hands in Bukayo Saka - and Ian Wright knew all along.
The Gunners legend was at the club's famous Hale End academy to watch the winger in action back when he was 15 and was blown away by his talent. Five years on, Saka is well on his way to fulfilling his huge potential to become a key star for club and country.
After making his debut under former boss Unai Emery in 2018, the 20-year-old has gone on to make 122 appearances for Arsenal - scoring 21 in the process. And he continues to go from strength to strength with his goals and assists rising by the season.
This year, Saka has scored 10 times in all competitions and five assists and has high hopes of leading the Gunners into the Champions League. His form has even seen club-record purchase Nicolas Pepe effectively ostracised from the squad with Mikel Arteta preferring the pace and trickery of the Arsenal academy product.
And the Spaniard is not the only one who is a big fan of the youngster as club legend Wright has been watching him for years - even as a 15-year-old. He told GQ: “He was 15 and people were already saying Saka was way too advanced for the team he was playing with.
"I remember watching him at Hale End, and he went past three players so easily, and the ball came to him a couple of times and he just popped it off, one touch, and moved. He was just doing stuff in that game that a player of 25 years of age would do. I said, ‘He’s going all the way to the top – no danger.’”
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Wright was proved correct with Saka now donning the famous No. 7 shirt at Arsenal, which belonged to former club icons such as Robert Pires, Liam Brady and Wright's close pal, the late David "Rocky" Rocastle.
While Saka might be a huge star already at the Emirates, he remains as humble as he is talented and has never forgotten those that have helped him out in his budding career. That includes Wright, who the Arsenal ace had fond words for. “Ian Wright knows everyone, you know!” Saka told GQ. “He’s such a good guy, man. I swear. He has a good heart. You don’t find people like that a lot.”
Arsenal are back in action on Saturday when they take on Southampton after hitting an untimely slump in the Premier League. A 2-1 loss to Brighton at the Emirates has hampered their efforts getting into the top four this season after relinquishing the spot to fierce rivals Tottenham.
