Tag: Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka believes Arsenal’s strength in depth can be the difference for the Gunners this season as they look to end a wait since 2003⁄04 to win the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s men are four points clear at the top of the table from Bournemouth, with their realistic title challengers Manchester City and Liverpool six and seven points adrift respectively.

Arsenal have finished second for each of the past three seasons when injury problems at times derailed their title challenge.

However, Arteta now has a far deeper pool of resources to call on after a £250 million ($333 million) spend on eight signings during the transfer window.

Saka is among the Arsenal stars, also including Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and William Saliba, to have already been sidelined by injury at times this season.

But Arteta’s side have relied on their strength from set pieces and an excellent defensive record to win seven consecutive games in all competitions.

 “This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality. We’ve suffered already a lot of injuries, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest,” Saka told Sky Sports.  “I think that’s where we’ve slipped off in a few seasons, but this season, we’ve got that and it’s making me really believe we can do it.”

Next year could be a memorable one for Saka as he also aims to end England’s long wait since 1966 to win a major tournament at the World Cup.

 “That’s my prayer. Of course it is doable,” he added on the prospect of a Premier League and World Cup double in 2026.

Read Also: EPL: Rice, Saka score as Arsenal go top with comfortable win over West Ham

“You can’t really do anything if you don’t believe in it. I believe it is possible. It won’t be easy, definitely won’t be easy, but yeah it is possible.”

Saka was part of the England sides that lost two European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate.

The Three Lions are the only European side to qualify so far for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico after a flawless start to their qualifying campaign since Thomas Tuchel took charge.

Saka has been impressed by Tuchel and hopes his experience at the highest level of the club game with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich can be key to England’s chances.

 “I think he is a top coach, tactical understanding and with people as well he is very demanding, he knows how to get the best out of the players I would say,” said the 24-year-old.

 “He has shown in the past he can win at the highest level and won the biggest of trophies. He has competed in many finals as well, so he has definitely got the experience and hopefully he can guide us to victory.”

The English football landscape has long been a breeding ground for talented young players who go on to achieve greatness on the world stage. 

The likes of Ademola Lookman, Bukayo Saka, and Alex Iwobi are just a few examples of players who began their journeys as youngsters in England before blossoming into professional stars known across the globe.

One player who is following in the footsteps of these stars is Olumide Akinode, a versatile and dynamic footballer born on June 19, 2001, in London, England.

He is of Nigerian parentage. With a professional career spanning over four years, ‘Olu’ as he is fondly called, has showcased his adaptability and skill across multiple positions, excelling as a right wing-back, winger, and even in central midfield.

“I’ve always been driven to succeed and make a name for myself in football,” Olu said. “Growing up, I looked up to players like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, who not only excelled on the pitch but also built successful brands off it. I want to follow in their footsteps and create a lasting legacy in the sport.”

Olu’s football journey began in England, where he played for notable clubs such as Brentwood Town, Northwood, Coggeshall Town, and Stanway Rovers.

During his time in the competitive Isthmian and Essex Senior Leagues, he gained recognition for his consistent performances and leadership qualities.

According to the testimonies of his former coaches, Olu was always a standout player, even from a young age. His hunger to learn and improve and his work ethic were second to none. Olu’s efforts earned him accolades, including the prestigious Players’ Player of the Season award for the 2022/23 season.

In 2023, an opportunity to play abroad came knocking, and Olu signed with LKS Ślesin in Poland’s Artbud Group IV Liga. It was a bold move, but one that showcased his courage and ambition.

“Coming to Poland was a fresh start,” Olu reflects. “It was about proving to myself that I could adapt to a new culture, a new style of play, and still thrive.”

Read Also: NFF clears air on alleged unpaid salary to Chukwu

Olu continues to make an impact on the field with stellar performances, tallying two assists and a Man of the Match award within just five games.

It is not surprising Olu has quickly become fans’ favourite. One of the local sports journalists in Poland describes Olu as ‘a player who brings energy and precision to every match’.

Beyond his on-field exploits, Olu is also focused on building his brand.

“It’s about being more than just a footballer,” he says. “I want to inspire younger players, especially those who come from humble beginnings like I did, to chase their dreams fearlessly.”

His journey resonates with many, including aspiring footballers in England and Poland.

For many, Olu’s story reminds us that it’s not about where we start but how far we’re willing to go.

“He’s an inspiration to so many of people.” affirms … a close friend

At 23, Olumide Akinode’s journey is just beginning. With his talent, determination, and ever-growing fan base, he’s poised for greater heights. Whether it’s breaking into higher leagues or representing his ancestral homeland, Nigeria, on the international stage, the future looks bright for Olu.

“For me, it’s always about progress,” Akinode says with a smile. “Every match, every training session, every new challenge—I see it as a step closer to achieving my dreams.”

Like Lookman, Saka, and Iwobi before him, Akinode is proving that humble beginnings are no barrier to global success. Instead, they are the foundation upon which greatness is built.

Injury lay-offs are rarely welcomed by players but Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka believes his enforced break could benefit him and his club as they prepare to face holders Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League tonight.

Saka has emerged as arguably the most irreplaceable player in Mikel Arteta’s squad and while his return from a serious hamstring injury has probably come too late to salvage Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes, European glory is a realistic aim.

“I think mentally it was really good for me,” the 23-year-old Saka, who missed more than three months after sustaining an injury before Christmas, said. “Obviously it was really tough for me initially to find out the extent of my injury, that I was going to have surgery, it was really tough for me to hear the news at first but once it was done and successful I was just focused on coming back stronger and I had a lot of time.”

Saka missed England’s opening two World Cup qualifiers last month but scored on his return for Arsenal in the Premier League win against Fulham last week.

If Arsenal are to stun Real Madrid, they will need Saka firing on all cylinders and he believes his relative freshness will give him an edge against the Spanish giants.

Read Also: Ex-tennis star plans to feed over 1,000 families in Lagos

“The past five years I’ve been playing game after game so it was the first proper break I’ve had,” he said. “It was really good for me. I got to do a lot of things that I don’t normally do. It’s really nice to be back and I feel fresh mentally.

“I’m just focused now on the positives and I couldn’t ask to come back at a better time of the season than now.”

Saka’s importance to Arsenal is underlined by his statistics this season — 10 goals and 14 assists in 26 matches in all competitions, including four goals in the Champions League.

Arsenal were stopped at the quarter-final stage last year by Bayern Munich when they were still neck and neck with Manchester City in the battle for the Premier League title.

This time, all their eggs are in their European basket and Saka said  tonight’s first leg could be one of the best occasions ever witnessed at the Emirates Stadium.

“It’s a very big night and the stakes are high against one of the best teams in the competition,” he said.

“It’s the first time the club has been in back-to-back Champions League quarter-finals for a while, so tomorrow night we want to take the next step and try and get over the line.”

Bukayo Saka is “ready to go” for Arsenal after three months out with a hamstring injury, manager Mikel Arteta  has said.

The England forward, 23, who has scored nine goals in all competitions for the club this season, has not featured since Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on December 21.

 “Bukayo is ready to go,” Arteta said ahead  of  today’s match against Fulham. “All the careful things are already done so now it’s about putting him on the grass in the right moments. But he’s pushing because he really wants to.

 “We have respected the timeframe and we have done everything and we had to hold him back, even. He is ready to go.”

Asked whether Saka, who had hamstring surgery in December, could start against eighth-place Fulham at the Emirates, the Arsenal boss replied: “Yeah, yeah.”

Arteta added: “Bukayo is a massive weapon. We know the impact that he has had in the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success. It’s great to have him back.”

Arsenal are second in the Premier League, 12 points behind Liverpool with just nine games to go and realistically out of the title race.

But they are through to the Champions League quarter-finals and host Real Madrid in the first leg of their tie on April 8.

The return of Saka is a huge boost for Arteta, who has been short of firepower in recent weeks, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out of action with long-term injuries.

Read Also: ‘Proud’ Dessers excited with historic Rangers’ late winner

The Spaniard said Saka’s return would be a huge lift for Arsenal.

 “It’s more the energy that he transmits, that he’s missed the thing that he loves the most in his life, which is to be around the team, to play, to train, and to compete at the highest level,” he said.

 “The fact that he’s able to come in the most important part of the season is a massive boost for him and the team as well.

 “He hasn’t played for three months, but has played for the last 48 months. So three in 48 is a very small percentage.”

Arteta said Jurrien Timber is available after a bout of illness but fellow defender Riccardo Calafiori faces a spell on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury on international duty for Italy.

The Arsenal boss spoke in glowing terms about the club’s new sporting director Andrea Berta, whose appointment was confirmed on Sunday.

The 53-year-old Italian, who previously worked at Atletico Madrid, succeeds the Gunners’ former midfielder Edu in the role.

 “We certainly believe that he is someone who is going to impact the club,” said Arteta.

 “And he’s got that experience, he’s got this personality as well, this charisma, and… will to win. That is going to be very contagious.”

Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, with manager Mikel Arteta describing his loss as a “huge” blow.

The England winger went down midway through the first half at Selhurst Park on Saturday and had to be replaced by Leandro Trossard.

 “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks,” Arteta said his press conference , adding he could not be more specific.

The Spaniard said the loss of the 23-year-old, who has nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season, would force him into a rethink.

 “Obviously he’s a big player for us,” he said. “You just have to see the impact that he has on the team, but it’s going to be a really good exercise for all of us to think about ways to overcome another challenge, because we’ve already had a lot in the season.”

Arteta said Saka was “gutted” and “really emotional” after discovering the extent of his injury.

He also revealed that fellow winger Raheem Sterling had injured his knee and would be out for a number of weeks.

 “We have to look internally at what we have and be creative,” said the Gunners boss, adding that he did not know if the club would sign a winger in the January transfer window.

Read Also: GTI salutes  NFF, Lookman, others on CAF Awards

Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches, souring what had been a comprehensive second win over the Palace in four days.

Arteta, whose third-placed team face Premier League strugglers Ipswich on Friday, said he was confident that Saka would be back well before the end of the season.

 “It’s part of the development of a player,” he said. “At some stage, at this level, you are going to get injured –- unfortunately badly.

“It could have been worse, it could have been something else that can take you out for a year. It’s how you react to that, how you overcome that situation.”

Arteta said he was “putting some ideas together” about how to cope in the winger’s absence.

“We went through the period (this season without) Martin (Odegaard), we went through the period with five, six defenders missing, we went through the period without many other players,” he said.

“We will continue to do that – finding ways and taking it with positive energy.”

Asked if the congested fixture schedule had played a part in Saka’s injury, Arteta said the issue was more to do with consistently high workloads over many seasons.

 “For example, Bukayo and Declan (Rice), they played over 130 games in two seasons,” he said. “So what’s going to happen in the second one, the third one or the fourth one, if that continues the same way? Probably it’s unsustainable.”

Bukayo Saka sat down in front of the media at San Siro ground of Inter Milan this week to talk about captainship,  leadership, and inspirations.

On being captain at Arsenal

It’s been a big honour to put the captain’s armband on. Every time, I don’t take it for granted, and my role in the team has improved a lot this year. I have to step up for my team and be more of a leader. But I’m embracing it, I’m doing my best and that’s all I can do really.

On leadership role

No, I think I would if I needed to, if I felt I needed to, but I think it’s important not to overreact as well. Obviously, there’s a lot of noise around the club, and you know, we lost two games and drew another one, but at the same time, I think it’s important to stay calm, and doing all these things can at the same time create more calm, but they can also create a bit more panic and chaos. I don’t think we need that right now, so I’m just doing my best to help the team in every way I can, and if I need to do that, I’ll do that for sure.

On which players influenced him and what type of captain he is

First of all, I’m not the captain. Martin is still the captain. I’m just part of the leadership group and I wear the captain’s armband when he’s not around and he’s back now, which is going to be a big boost for us. But yeah, when I do have the armband on me, I’d say I’m more of a lead-by-example kind of guy, but at the same time, there’s a responsibility to talk sometimes and in the team talks, I have to be the one to speak up as well. I do my part on that as well.

On the difference between performances in the Champions League and Premier League

I feel like in the Champions League we’ve been really good this season. We have a very good record and we’re unbeaten, and we’re going to look to keep that record tomorrow night, and that’s all we can really do.

On whether he tells Mikel Arteta that he always wants to play

Pretty much, yeah! I think I just love football. I live for football and when I go home I watch a lot of football too and it’s just always on my mind. Like I said, I always take care of my body so that I can be available for each and every game, so if I’m going to travel there and I’m available to play, I want to play. That’s my mindset.

On players he looks up to

I’d probably say Jorginho. He’s my teammate and I love him. If I was to take a player out of Inter Milan now, I could take a lot of them. There are a lot of quality players. I like Barella, he’s a top midfielder and also the two strikers Thuram and Martinez. They’re good as well, but at the same time I’m happy with my teammates and I wouldn’t swap any of them, for sure.

On how people look at him and what he looks at from his captains

If I start with Martin, obviously I’ve seen him come in when he wasn’t captain and now he is, so I’ve seen him progress and evolve in that role and it’s been really impressive. I’ve been watching and learning at times. He’s made a big step at that. Harry Kane is also a top captain as well. He leads by example a lot on the pitch. He’s always available, always training, always one of the best in training as well, so I try to learn from them both and do what I can do best.

Read Also: Vinicius Jr scores hat-trick as Real Madrid thrash Osasuna

Perspective-wise of how people see me, I think it’s best to ask other people if I’m honest, but I just feel like a lot of teammates know that I don’t really speak too much but when I speak most of the time I’m going to say something good so most of the time they’ll listen.

On how he has improved from the penalty miss against Italy three years ago

I’d say it was a very difficult moment for me. I didn’t really know how to come out of it, I was just taking it day by day and had a lot of support from family, friends and everyone at the club and the national team. That helped me a lot and then, at the same time, I had a conversation with myself and said I can either go into a shell and hide and not express myself anymore, or I can do the opposite, which is work even harder and become a better player in every other aspect.

If I do get an opportunity to take a penalty again, I’m going to be the first one grabbing the ball and that’s what I did. Everyone saw what happened when I did score that first penalty and since then I’ve taken many more and scored most of them, so it was a period in my life where I had a choice and I think I made the right choice.

On Edu’s departure 

Yeah, so we didn’t know, but we all know what Edu’s done for the club, and he’s a top person, so first of all, I just want to wish him all the best. Obviously, we all know what he’s done for the football club. He’s been involved in the transformation and getting us back to performing at the highest stage, so we’re grateful for him and wish him all the best.

•Culled from Arsenal.com 

In the week that Bukayo Saka said he expected this season to be the one in which Arsenal would beat Manchester City to the Premier League title, Mikel Arteta’s men were staring down the barrel of a shock defeat after Cameron Archer fired Southampton into the lead.

But Havertz hauled the Gunners level just three minutes later, with substitute Martinelli adding a second for the hosts after 68 minutes.

Read Also: INKOSI BROU: I want to fence for Nigeria in LA2028 Olympics

Southampton almost hit back – striking David Raya’s woodwork twice in one minute – but Saka made sure of the points with two minutes remaining on another pivotal afternoon in north London. The Gunners remain level on points with rivals City, and one shy of leaders Liverpool.

After a drab opening half, the game had come alive, and on the hour mark, Arteta introduced Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to save the day. And it was the former who did just that. Saka’s fine cross found Martinelli unmarked, and the winger’s side-footed volley went through Ramsdale’s legs. A nervy VAR check for offside followed, but Arsenal survived.

Bukayo Saka put on an outstanding display to help Arsenal defeat Wolves 2-0 in their Premier League season opener.

Arsenal began the season in excellent form, earning a comfortable 2-0 win over Wolves at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s men started strongly and Ben White and Bukayo Saka missed a couple of chances each, with Saka testing Jose Sa twice. However, the goalkeeper was partially to blame for Arsenal’s opening goal, as Kai Havertz beat him to Saka’s teasing cross to head home.

Read Also: SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE: I wanted Osimhen to come to Milan

The hosts spurned opportunities to double their lead before halftime, but Wolves had a chance to equalize when David Raya made a brilliant save to deny Jorgen Strand Larsen’s header.

Despite serious pressure from Wolves, Saka saved the day with a fine with an important second for the hosts.

He and Havertz combined again with the Englishman cutting inside before firing into the near post.

Arsenal’s rock-solid defense, which was the league’s best last season, continued to impress, securing another clean sheet and bolstering their hopes for another title challenge.

Bukayo Saka has been warned that his England starting spot is under threat, with Cole Palmer tipped to become a key player for the Three Lions.

Saka has once again been one of the driving forces behind Arsenal’s success this season, scoring 18 goals and notching 13 assists in all competitions. He starred in Tuesday’s draw with Bayern Munich, having also scored in the win over Brighton on Saturday.

But competition for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England team for Euro 2024 is set to be fierce. Palmer is one of those pushing hard to be given a chance to star in Germany this summer.

Read Also; Our economy ‘ll roar back to glory in coming months – Tinubu

The 21-year-old has been a revelation for Chelsea since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Manchester City last summer. He has scored 19 goals for the Blues, regularly winning games almost single-handedly.

Those performances have fired him into contention for the England senior team, receiving his first call-up in November. And former Arsenal star Alan Smith believes that Saka needs to be looking over his shoulder.

 “Cole Palmer has to get into that England squad and if he’s going to play then it needs to be on that right hand side – that’s where he’s done all his good work for Chelsea where he comes in onto his left foot,” Smith told instantcasino.com.