Bukayo Saka almost joined Tottenham Hotspur, the local rivals of his current club, Arsenal. The 20-year-old English football star had already gone on trial at the club before he decided to switch to Arsenal.
Recall that Bukayo Saka joined Arsenal football academy popularly known as Hale End from a local club known as Greenford Celtic. Despite being a child then, his football skills attracted the attention of other big football clubs in London including Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
After a serious effort by scouts of different clubs to get the services of little Saka, the Youngster chose to join Arsenal’s academy because of the love his father had for coach Arsene Wenger, the then coach of Arsenal, and the club’s love for grooming youngsters to the club’s senior-level influenced him to join the Premier League side.
Bukayo Saka gained promotion to the club’s under 18 team on July 1, 2017. His football skills accelerated his promotion to the club’s under 23 team on July 1, 2018, and then the club’s senior team on July 1, 2019.
Since then, he has grown to become one of the club’s most important players, especially under coach Mikel Arteta. So far at Arsenal, Saka has played 114 games in all competitions for Arsenal in which he scored 18 goals and provided 26 assists.
So far this season, Saka who still has until June 30, 2024, before his contract with Arsenal expires, has scored 7 goals and provided 4 assists in 26 games in all competitions.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports recently, the England international confirmed that Arsenal has always been the club he wanted to join. He went on to reveal how Arsenal has always been the club in the hearts of his family.
“I think Arsenal was always the one I wanted to go to,” the English star said.
“It seemed like they had a lot of faith in their youth and there was a clear pathway when you could see the players coming up from Hale End to London Colney and my dad also really believed in the project and he loved Arsene Wenger. I think Arsenal was the club in the hearts of my family, so we chose them.”
On his experience at the club’s academy, Bukayo Saka added: “I think from the moment you sign, the education at Hale End, you start to know the history of Arsenal. You know which games are the most important.
“We obviously knew the derby and the rivalry with Tottenham. So I’d say from the point I signed, the coaches made it known before every game against Tottenham how much it means and there was always extra excitement around that game.”
While on his growth as a football star at Arsenal, Saka noted: “I think I’ve taken a step forward, but I think, also, the team has taken a step forward. Football’s a team sport and as long as everyone is doing well, I think it makes things easier individually. I’d say we’re in good form and it really helps me – the team is so fluid, we’re building a lot of chemistry.”
Bukayo Saka dreams of experiencing a UEFA Champions League night
Now that he has achieved the dream of playing for Arsenal, Bukayo Saka’s biggest dream right now is to play in the Champions League.
Hence, he is hoping that Arsenal can qualify for the prestigious European competition to have a feel of it for the first time in his football career.
“I think the Champions League creates so many special nights and it’s a dream for me still to experience one of them and hopefully many more of them,” he said.
Arsenal are currently sitting on the 6th spot on the league table with 36 points in 21 games, four points away from 4th placed West Ham United.
