Mikel Arteta believes Bukayo Saka’s “aura” can propel Arsenal to Premier League glory with his side just three matches away from a first title in 22 years.
Arsenal won only once during Saka’s recent five-game injury absence but his comeback from an Achilles problem has revived the club’s fortunes.
Saka laid on Viktor Gyokeres’ opener against before he doubled his side’s advantage in an impressive 3-0 win against Fulham last weekend. Saka then scored the critical goal as Arsenal secured a 2-1 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid to reach the Champions League final – their first since 2006.
And the England international – who made his debut for the Gunners seven years ago – will hope to fire Arsenal to a crucial three points over relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium with league games against Burnley, at home, and away at Crystal Palace on the final day, to follow.
And when asked how important the 24-year-old is to Arsenal, Arteta said: “Obviously his role has grown around the club, around the team and on the pitch towards the opponent as well.
“You sense that. He has got a presence now, he has got an aura. He has got something special.
“He is a different player, he is a player that can change a game at any moment. And creating that fear in the opponent is something important.
“We would have loved to have him much more in recent weeks. But, I said to him, ‘if that’s the case, let’s use this in the best way – which is you are going to jump in fresh, motivated and with a different emotional state. You can really impact the team now’.
“And I feel extremely lucky, and I said this from the beginning, to find somebody at the club that you can lean into at any level. Knowing that he’s going to respond. Knowing that his heart is in the right place. Knowing that everything he does comes from certain values, certain education, certain principles.
“It’s been a joy. We know him on a human level. And on the football level, what he has provided to this club, and what he did the other night (against Atleti) was just remarkable.”
Like Saka, Declan Rice has transformed Arsenal into serious contenders following his £100million move from West Ham in 2023.
The 27-year-old England midfielder will make his 59th appearance of the season for club and country when he lines up against his former employers on Sunday.
He has enjoyed a hugely impressive campaign, and finished runner-up to Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes for the recently announced Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award.
And Arteta added: “Dec’s been outstanding for us, he’s one of our leaders, one of the main players without a doubt. And what he’s doing for the club, for the team, is just very powerful.”
