Bukayo Saka has been a consistent player for Arsenal since coming through the Hale End academy and will be hoping to make history with victory in the Champions League final.
Bukayo Saka will be out to make history for Arsenal this weekend (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)
Bukayo Saka has finally seen his ‘dream come true’ at Arsenal.
He is a home-grown academy graduate who started out at Hale End aged just seven, when winning a Premier League title seemed a world away. However, Saka now has the chance to complete an unprecedented double by also winning the Champions League trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
And Saka’s story is why children dream of playing football, and also why he is such a popular figure among Arsenal fans.
The 24-year-old winger has fought hard to succeed as a professional, working even harder to earn a place in the first team and now has the chance to write a new chapter in history. For a certain generation of Arsenal fans, Saka is also the closest thing to club legend David Rocastle, and the great thing about this generation is that they are writing their own stories.
Saka said: “We all know where my journey started. I was seven or eight years old at Hale End Road, trying to win the Premier League, trying to win the Champions League with Arsenal and it was a very long way.
“Last week it felt like everything came true, but tomorrow is an exciting opportunity to create more history and bring another victory to the club I love.”
Saka is an academy graduate who made his debut in 2018 and has endured a period of hardship before establishing himself for club and country.
Another club legend, Thierry Henry, admitted there was a feeling Saka might not make the grade, but his extraordinary personality and personality saw him through. So Saka’s biggest fans made sure to come to the Puskas Arena to cheer on the Arsenal team, who are on the verge of achieving what not even the Invincibles could achieve: winning the European Cup.
“(Henry) just messaged me and he said, ‘I’ll be here in the afternoon. I’ll meet you outside after training. I’ll be here,'” Saka said.
“That’s a consistent theme. He’s been there through the good times and the bad. So yeah, I have a lot of love for him and I’m very grateful to him.”
Saka has continued his journey with Mikel Arteta as the Arsenal manager transformed the club. From a laughing stock to a branded bottler, Arsenal are now enjoying glory.
That’s why Saka, who has experienced many ups and downs, is determined to seize this opportunity.
“A lot of things come to mind. We were far from the level we are now, but Mikel has made it clear that he wants to take Arsenal back to where we believe we belong, fighting for every trophy and competing at the highest level,” Saka said.
Saka is full of gratitude for Mikel Arteta’s achievements at Arsenal (Image: Getty)
“I’m proud to sit here today and say we achieved that by winning the Premier League. Of course it was a long journey to play in this final and there were some disappointments along the way, but it was worth it considering the feeling of winning the Premier League.”
“The feeling with Mikel is also special, all the players who have been on this journey and we have fought for each other and at times hugged and enjoyed the moment.
“I feel like we’re a very close-knit team, we get along really well and we’re going to fight for each other on and off the pitch.
“It’s a big step forward and it helped us win the title and I hope it gives us an advantage here on the pitch as well.”
Much has been made about Arsenal’s increased playing time, but incredibly, PSG players have played a total of 38 fewer games than their opponents over the entire Premier League season.
However, Saka says he doesn’t feel tired. “I’ve had a week to recover and I’m ready to fight again. A fight like this isn’t decided in minutes,” Saka said.
“It will depend on the moment and which team can produce quality and organize well.
“We know the history of the club and as players we know that tomorrow we can win for the first time, so it’s a big motivation for us as players.”
Saka also enjoyed the best party in 22 years to celebrate winning the title and dreams of lifting another big trophy. He added: “Personally, I know exactly what it means to the fans. I love this club and have been on this journey, through the ups and downs.”
“We felt it, when we won the Premier League we realized how much it meant to our supporters.
“The parade is probably the first time we’ll see all the Arsenal fans properly together and we’re really excited.
“But at the same time, we’re trying to focus on this game because we’re very excited and motivated to do something special and get Father even more excited. This game is our focus, but after that we’re going to have fun.”
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