‘Arsenal have got such a GEM… he’s getting his education through Arteta and fantastic players’: Bukayo Saka hailed by Joe Cole after his winner against Bodo/Glimt, as pundit insists Gunners have ‘GOT to tie him down’ to a new deal
- Joe Cole believes that Arsenal have a ‘gem’ in the shape of forward Bukayo Saka
- The 21-year-old starred for his side and scored the only goal to beat Bodo/Glimt
- Both Cole and Martin Keown insisted Arsenal need to build the club around him
Joe Cole believes that Bukayo Saka is ‘a gem’ after his starring role in Arsenal’s cagey 1-0 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
The 21-year-old scored the only goal of the game in the 24th minute in bizarre fashion as the ball jumped up after a deflection to go in off the English forward’s chest.
Having finished as the Gunners’ top scorer last season, Saka now has four goals and four assists in 12 games in 2022-23.
Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s best attacking outlet in their 1-0 victory over Bodo/Glimt
Former West Ham and Chelsea midfielder Cole told BT Sport: ‘You have to understand how young he is, where he is in his career. Arsenal have got such a gem here.
‘He’s already so experienced. He’s one of the leaders on the team on the pitch. He takes responsibility.
‘He’s a fantastic player and he’s one that Arsenal have got to tie down and build this new regime this new great side that seems to be emerging (around him).
Former West Ham and Chelsea man Joe Cole described the English forward as ‘a gem’
‘The beauty with him is you can use him there on the left of a front three, you can use him as a No 10, a left wing back, on the right wing, but he’s just a fantastic footballer and he’s getting his education through Arteta and fantastic players.
‘Young players around him have all got his energy and they’ve kept it going tonight. It’s important momentum at this stage of the season.’
Having joined the north London outfit as a youth player, Saka has become arguably the most important player at the Emirates Stadium after making his debut in November 2018.
Cole also thinks Arsenal should build their team around the 21-year-old
While Arsenal have in general struggled since he made his breakthrough under Unai Emery, Saka has blossomed into one of the premier attacking midfielders in the country, and has won consecutive Player of the Season awards for Arsenal.
And despite the fact his current contract is not up until the end of 2024, having signed an extension in 2020, many are crying for the club to tie him down for an extended period of time.
Arsenal icon Martin Keown added: ‘He’s top drawer, he’s come through the academy, he’s had his foot on every rung of the ladder at that club. He’s now showing the way for the next generation.
‘Tonight he was the difference with the class that he has. As a left-footed right winger it’s really difficult when he comes to the side, it’s just that change of pace.
‘But that now is really quite exciting, really, when you see (Mohamed) Salah doing that for Liverpool, and he’s in that mould now, starting to come off the line a little bit more coming more central.
‘And him and Martinelli are now really going through the gears in Arsenal jerseys.’
