Wayne Rooney believes Bukayo Saka is now Arsenal’s best player, saying it is the Gunners star’s consistency has seriously impressed him. The 21-year-old is well established in the Arsenal team but this campaign has been his best so far, netting 14 times in all competitions as Mikel Arteta’s side challenge for the Premier League title. Saka was not alone in emerging from the youth system at Arsenal, but it is he who has shone the brightest, with Rooney liking what he has seen from the England winger.
“Saka has impressed me most,” Rooney wrote in The Times. “He’s only 21 but has 13 goals and 11 assists this season. For a young player, playing out wide, that output is really good. We saw him, Emile Smith-Rowe and a couple of others come through from Arsenal’s academy at the same time and he’s the one who has been consistently able to deal with the expectation and perform. Now he’s Arsenal’s best player. When he missed the penalty against West Ham I was surprised he took it in the first place — I thought it should have been Jesus — but having bounced back from missing one in the shoot-out at the Euro 2020 final, he has shown his character. I have no doubt he will recover mentally from the setback.”
Despite Saka’s penalty troubles, Arteta has confirmed that the winger will continue to take the spot-kicks for the Gunners. “Yes. If not, I will go on the pitch and throw him the ball and make sure he will take the next one,” said the Spaniard.
Wayne Rooney believes Bukayo Saka is now Arsenal’s best player, praising his consistency and impressive output of 13 goals and 11 assists this season. The 21-year-old has emerged from the youth system at Arsenal and has been able to consistently deal with the expectation and perform. Despite missing a penalty against West Ham, Saka has shown his character by bouncing back from missing one in the shoot-out at the Euro 2020 final. Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Saka will continue to take spot-kicks for the Gunners, saying “If not, I will go on the pitch and throw him the ball and make sure he will take the next one.” For more stories like this, check our sport page and follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.