Bukayo Saka has hailed the influence of Freddie Ljungberg after the teenager hit his first senior Arsenal goal in Thursday’s Europa League win at Eintracht Frankfurt.
The winger shone in a much-changed Gunners side, setting up fellow academy graduate Joe Willock and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang either side of netting a wonderful, long-range strike as Arsenal eased to a 3-0 victory.
Head coach Unai Emery made seven alterations to his side for what, on paper, appeared to be their hardest game in Group F, with Frankfurt not having lost a home European fixture since 2006.
But those that came into the team impressed, particularly youngsters Saka, Willock and Emile Smith Rowe.
Saka, 18, made his debut in last year’s Europa League before making his one and only Premier League appearance to date in a 4-1 win over Fulham on New Year’s Day.
The England Under-19 talent is the latest player off the Hale End production line and he credited Ljungberg, the former Arsenal midfielder who was promoted to Emery’s assistant over the summer having worked with the likes of Saka as Under-23 manager last year, for his development.
“It helps so much,” he replied when asked how useful it is to have Ljungberg’s input.
“Sometimes when I don’t understand, when the coach is trying to communicate with me, I have a better communication with Freddie sometimes, he speaks better English.
“Freddie’s information, he’s been a player at this level before, and it’s vital for me because I play in the same position as me and he’s been a big part in my progress.
“He gives a lot of advice to me every day but one of the most, the best piece of advice he’s given me is to stay humble.
“He’s been with me since I was 15, seen me do amazing things but he always tells me to stay humble, keep working hard because he really thinks I can be a top player.”
Saka would certainly be pleased to leave the same sort of mark on Arsenal as Ljungberg did, and he was delighted to get the ball rolling in Germany.
“It was such a great night for me,” he added. “I’ve always dreamed of this moment from when I was a kid to score a goal for Arsenal Football Club. Now, I’ve done it, I just want to keep working, stay humble, get that feeling again one day.
“I take a lot of confidence from this game. It was my first goal and I also managed to get two assists so I’m very happy with my performance.
“There will be a lot of opportunities in the Europa League. That’s how I made my debut last season and I hope I can continue to get more and more opportunities and keep progressing so I can maybe one day play in the Premier League and start playing for Arsenal’s first team.”
Saka, who revealed he had video-called his father from the changing room at full-time, also has an idol whose own career is acting as a further influence.
“Cristiano Ronaldo,” he replied when asked who he admired.
“I love his mentality, he always wants to be the best, always working hard on and off the pitch, trying to make his body the best and when he gets on the pitch he performs with full confidence and full personality and shows why he’s one of the best players to ever play football.
“We are two different players. He is unique, but I try to look at him and take the good things from his game and one of the good things from his game is his mentality. He’s always focused, always working, and I try to do that as well.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here