Arsenal academy starlet Bukayo Saka is on a sure rise. His talent is unquestionable – Saka’s influence, accompanied with another Gunners’ prospect Emile Smith Rowe, has been massive in Arsenal’s slow ascent from abysmal start of the season to fighting for the Champions League spots.And as huge factors in his rise, young Englishman with Nigerian roots named two people as especially responsible for his growth.Quick recovery! Newcastle get their boss back in time for Gunners showdownSpeaking to SportBIBLE, the academy sensation mentioned Mikel Arteta and David Luiz as two of his biggest influences while paving his way with the first squad – Spaniard helped Saka on a tactical level while the Brazilian was the ever-present support for the youngster in human terms.’Tactically, he’s [Arteta] quite a genius. I would say, I think tactically he, he’s good at really outsmarting other teams and he always knows how, how it was best to get out in terms of playing out the back.’And how best to suppress them and, I think as players, that really helps you go into games prepared and knowing what you have to do to win, basically’. Saka has played a starring role for Arteta this season after graduating to the first-team under the Gunners’ former manager Unai Emery.David Luiz advising Saka (©Gallo Images)The 20-year-old also credited former Gunners central defender David Luiz as the player who has helped him the most in his career so far.Saka described Luiz as his ‘most helpful teammate’ as he would ‘advice’ him on and off the pitch. ‘I’ve had a lot of help from a lot of different players but I would say probably the biggest impact – probably David Luiz’, Saka said.’He has done the most for me in my career, to go into the first team was obviously not always the easiest experience but, and I think if you say this to all of the young players at Arsenal, [they’d say] David done so much.Sat, 15.30: (1.60) ARSENAL (4.10) NEWCASTLE (6.25)’He went out of his way to do a lot for us – advice on and off the pitch, yeah he was a really good guy but there has been loads of other players at Arsenal of course, but I’d probably say David.’Saka & Co face struggling Newcastle in the Premier League round 13 opener at the Emirates Stadium and both teams could really use a win – newly-rich Magpies haven’t recorded a league win in 13 matches in all competitions, while the Gunners need to bounce back after Liverpool stomped the north Londoners a week ago.
