Bukayo Saka on Arsenal being back in the Champions League and Ballon d’Or ambitions

In a recent interview, Arsenal sensation Bukayo Saka sat down with France Football to discuss his rise to prominence at the club, the Gunners being back in Europe’s premier competition and Mikel Arteta’s influence on his career. 

Saka told FF of how he used to “dream of playing football, debuting for Arsenal, playing in the Champions League and for England” as a child. These are all accomplishments he has added to his own arsenal in his illustrious career to date, besides playing in the Champions League. However, after spearheading a title challenge for his beloved club last season, he won’t have long to wait now.

The England international has only ever known Arsenal during his career, arriving at the club as an eight-year-old. Speaking about growing up in the Gunners’ academy, he said “Going to the Arsenal Academy every day and growing up there was an incredible experience for someone like me. I drew inspiration from many people there. Playing for Arsenal, one of the world’s biggest clubs, was a dream. The academy allowed me to visit the stadium too. I remember an Arsenal-Barcelona match with Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez. Those memories nourished my passion“.

With Arsenal now back in the Champions League, Saka commented on his ambitions moving forwards including potentially winning the Ballon d’Or, “Ultimately, my goal is to win numerous trophies for Arsenal and score pivotal goals. On the international stage as well, winning the World Cup with England would be monumental. The aspiration of every player, I believe, is to win the Ballon d’Or. But for now, our focus is on collective victories.”

The Arsenal v Barcelona match in question, of course, took place in the Champions League. The North London club are back in UEFA’s top club competition this year, after a 6-year hiatus. The 21-year-old commented on his role as a leader at Arsenal and what it would be like to see UCL football back at the Emirates, saying “I don’t see myself as the leader. Leadership is shared within this squad. Everyone has their role, and I strive to fulfil what’s expected of me, primarily to score and create impactful moments… Returning to the Champions League is the beginning of an exciting chapter. It’s something Arsenal is accustomed to, but for me, it’s going to be truly special. I can’t wait.”

Saka was handed his Arsenal debut by former boss Unai Emery, but the latter’s compatriot Arteta gave him a starting berth in the team and has enabled him to transform into one of the best right-sided attackers in world football. When asked about whether he sees Arteta as an older brother-figure and whether his boss gets annoyed at him, he responded: “No, no! He’s my boss. Sometimes I don’t do exactly what he asks on the pitch, but it’s not annoyance. He’s demanding because he wants me to progress. He desires me to be the best person and, of course, the best player possible.”

GFFN | Liam Wraith