BUKAYO SAKA has revealed that his first trip to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium was actually in the away end with Newcastle because his dad loved Alan Shearer.
The 18-year-old academy graduate has been a rare bright spark for the Gunners this season, providing ten assists in all competitions.
Bukayo Saka has flourished at Arsenal this season as a makeshift left-backCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The 18-year-old revealed he was taken to the Emirates in the Newcastle end because his dad loved Alan ShearerCredit: Reuters
The teenager was handed a Premier League start by former manager Unai Emery in the 1-1 draw at Manchester United back in September and has gave an insight into his journey to the top.
He told the club’s website: “I was standing on the pitch at Old Trafford before the game.
“It was just my second-ever start in the Premier League – and it finally hit me: I’m in the Arsenal first team.
“I had been here 10 years earlier with my dad, sitting in the away end with the Newcastle fans. My dad has always been a big football fan, he supported Newcastle because he loved Alan Shearer.
“I hadn’t been to many stadiums at all, so it was a big moment for me, as an eight-year-old, to go to a game. But now here I was as a player.
My dad has always been a big football fan, he supported Newcastle because he loved Alan Shearer
Bukayo Saka
“Being down on the pitch, looking up at the fans in the stands, it really hit me. I realised what was starting to happen.
“I just enjoyed playing, but I don’t think I ever really thought I was going to make it to the first team until I actually signed my first professional contract when I turned 17.
“You go through the youth teams, year by year, and you see all these great players around you – some of them could be the best in the year – and slowly they are all let go, to other clubs or even stopping completely.
“So you could never be sure that you would make it, but what I said to myself is that I would always give my best in every single session.
“I always wanted to learn to get better, I always watched a lot of football to see how I could improve.
“But we had a big group at Hale End, and even though we had so many quality players, the coaches would always say, ‘Look around the dressing room, only maybe one or possibly two of you will make it to the first team one day.’
“We would look at each other and wonder who it would be. I was always determined for it to be me, and so I wanted to do whatever it took to achieve that.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
