Bukayo Saka has backed Mikel Arteta to restore the “Arsenal passing way”.
Teen star Saka impressed again in Monday’s 2-1 FA Cup win at Bournemouth, firing a fine goal from his makeshift left-back role.
Also Read: World club Rankings 2019: Nigerian Clubs Out of Top 200; Enugu Rangers Ranked 236th
The 18-year-old also laid on Eddie Nketiah’s tap-in to cap a fluent Gunners move, then later hailed new boss Arteta’s growing influence at the Emirates Stadium.
“Mikel’s trying to bring back the philosophy, the Arsenal passing way and I feel like we played really good football in the first half,” said Saka.
“We played some good bits of football and the goal obviously was very good.”
Arsenal manager Arteta hailed Saka for grafting hard to grasp the extra defensive responsibility required to thrive at left-back, though the Cherries were so poor in the opening half-hour that the Gunners were hardly on the back foot.
Sam Surridge claimed a consolation goal for the hosts in added time but Arsenal strolled through without issue to book a fifth-round tie at Portsmouth.
“That’s the situation now because we don’t have any left-backs at the moment,” said Arteta, of Saka’s shifting into defence.
“What I like is that he’s put his head down, it’s not his favourite position to play, but we try to adapt him with his qualities to play him as much as possible in the position that he likes.
“But then he is very willing to learn all the defensive principals that we are asking him to do and his attitude is very good.”
“We train a lot together and we speak a lot and we’re good friends,” Saka told Arsenal’s official club website.
“Over time we’re speaking about how we’re going to beat the defenders and how we’re going to get in behind and score goals.”
Deflated Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe refused to shy away from the enormity of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth could climb out of the relegation zone with a much-needed win and Howe is in no mood to sugar-coat the Cherries’ situation.
“We know how big this game is, I don’t think we need to build it up internally,” said Howe.
“We’ve got to back ourselves to perform better than we did against Arsenal.
“We did it against Brighton (in the 3-1 Premier League win) and we’ll need another performance.”
Saka has scored three goals provided three assists in 23 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal this season.
You may be interested
Man City Suffer Double Injury Setbacks
Webby - November 2, 2024Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the fitness of John Stones and Ruben Dias following Saturday’s…
Former Flying Eagles Star Escapes Major Injury In Belgium
Webby - November 2, 2024Nigeria winger Yira Sor is expected to return to action after the international break, reports Completesports.com.Sor sustained an injury in…
Raphinha: I Decided To Remain At Barca To Prove Doubters Wrong
Webby - November 1, 2024Barcelona star Raphinha says his decision to remain with the club is meant to prove doubters wrong.Recall that the Brazilian…