Interview

Saka – How I’ve adapted to playing wing-back

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka made his first start in the Premier League 2 on Monday as our rotated under-23s held Blackburn Rovers to a goalless draw at Ewood Park. 

The 17-year-old had impressed off the bench in each of our last four outings - and on Monday night Freddie Ljungberg selected him to start as a left wing-back.

“It’s a new formation that the manager is playing so I’ve just had to adapt to it,” Saka told Arsenal Player.

“Anywhere I can play in the team, I’m happy to do it. If we continue playing this formation then I just want to master it so that I can get up and down as a fullback, get my fitness going, get crosses in, and record assists and goals. I just want to assist and score goals for the team.”

Saka was playing for the under-18s as a schoolboy last season, but he’s made a promising start to life under Ljungberg, claiming two assists in 172 minutes.

“It’s been tough because I’ve had to get used to the intensity because it’s much higher, but that’s why I’ve been working and working everyday at the training ground. I’m ready for it,” added Saka. 

Freddie’s taught me a lot because he was a winger, so he’s added a lot of stuff into my game, like how to press, how to make runs in behind and it’s really helping me.”

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