Mikel Arteta has opened up on the development of Bukayo Saka and says the Arsenal winger is keen to continue improving this season.
Saka opened the Premier League campaign with a stunning goal as Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest at the Emirates last weekend, with the winger having evolved into one of Europe’s most effective widemen.
The 21-year-old was one of just two players, alongside Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists in the Premier League last season, with his form having seen Saka named on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Crystal Palace on Monday evening, Arteta has backed Saka to continue his rate of improvement and says the England international is ‘hungry’ to become a player capable of deciding games ‘every three days’.
“He keeps growing year by year. He sets himself new targets and new demands and he seems to complete those,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference.
“He’s extremely hungry and willing to learn, to improve and become the player that decides games every three days.
“He is a very focussed boy – the way he trains, the way he prepares himself, the way he lives his life. I am very happy, so he needs to keep doing what he is doing.”
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