Arsenal starlet Saka wanted by Bundesliga’s best

Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s 17-year-old starlet, had been given a surprise call-up as Unai Emery’s first-team took on Qarabag in the Europa League.

And Michael Owen, working as an analyst for BT Sport, was left purring.

“Some of the skill… I watched Cristiano Ronaldo doing this the other day for Juventus,” the former England man said.

“He’s just different class and by the end of the game his confidence was oozing.”

Forward Saka, who has caught the attention of Bundesliga clubs, was making a premature move into the spotlight.

And he shone, showing off the speed, agility and guile that Arsenal icon Freddie Ljungberg had been developing through the club’s youth system.

Saka joined the Gunners’ Hale End academy nine years before his debut.

ALSO READ:  Hazard ‘agrees five-year Real Madrid deal’

And despite his success with Ljungberg, the London-born lad had not been expecting his call-up in December.

Sat among team-mates as Emery listed off his squad for the European clash, Saka was jolted by the sound of his own name.

“He called out the team and I couldn’t believe it,” the talented teen said.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about today, what I’m gonna do, how I’m going to do, and it turned out alright.”

Saka joined the Gunners’ Hale End academy nine years before his debut.

And despite his success with Ljungberg, the London-born lad had not been expecting his call-up in December.

ALSO READ:  Euro 2020 qualifying: Kane happy with “perfect” start

Sat among team-mates as Emery listed off his squad for the European clash, Saka was jolted by the sound of his own name.

“He called out the team and I couldn’t believe it,” the talented teen said.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about today, what I’m gonna do, how I’m going to do, and it turned out alright.”