Mikel Arteta has opened up about how Bukayo Saka is striving to emulate his childhood idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, following the young winger’s outstanding start to the season with Arsenal.

Saka’s recent contributions—a goal and an assist in the Gunners’ 5-2 victory over West Ham—have taken his tally for the season to 18 goal involvements, with 15 of those in the Premier League, a number only surpassed by Mohamed Salah.

Arteta Discusses Saka’s Development

Ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming match against Manchester United, Arteta spoke about Saka’s potential and his ability to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Portuguese forward.

Arteta believes that looking up to Ronaldo is a positive thing for the 23-year-old, especially given how Ronaldo’s career evolved over time.

“You can always look up to someone like Cristiano,” Arteta shared.

“When he first joined Manchester United, no one could have predicted the heights he would reach in his early years.

His success came down to his mentality, his work ethic, and how he honed his skills while playing in a team that had the ability to dominate.”

Continuous Growth on the Pitch

Arteta is confident that Saka is on a similar trajectory of growth.

The Arsenal manager noted that Saka, like Ronaldo, is consistently improving his game year after year.

His contributions in terms of goals and assists have been exceptional, and Arteta believes that the winger’s desire to improve will only help him get better.

“Every year, we see Bukayo adding something new to his game,” Arteta added.

“He’s become more consistent, and his impact is incredible at this stage of the season. He’s got the right people around him to continue to grow.”

Arsenal’s Focus Ahead of Crucial Match

Looking ahead to Wednesday’s match against Manchester United, Arteta is keenly aware of the importance of securing a win.

United, now unbeaten in three matches under new manager Ruben Amorim, have shown signs of resurgence, and though they sit in ninth place, they are just four points off the Champions League spots.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s own pursuit of a top-flight title is heating up.

With the return of captain Martin Ødegaard, the Gunners have climbed to second in the table after their recent win over West Ham.

However, with Liverpool sitting nine points clear at the top after their own dominant win against Manchester City, Arsenal faces a tough challenge to close the gap.

Arteta Acknowledges United’s New Energy

Arteta also took time to praise Amorim’s influence on Manchester United, noting the immediate impact the new manager has had on the team.

“You can already see what Amorim is trying to do,” Arteta said.

“What he achieved with Sporting was remarkable. He’s brought a fresh energy to United, and that can always be a positive for a team.”

Despite the challenges, Arteta remains focused on Arsenal’s own performance and the task at hand as they aim to maintain their push for the title.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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