Arteta outlines crucial Saka DEMAND

Mikel Arteta has urged England superstar Bukayo Saka to become a leader at Arsenal this season.

The 23-year-old has worn the captain’s armband on several occasions this campaign, due to Martin Odegaard’s absence through injury, and Arteta has outlined a key demand he has issued Saka in order for the Englishman to take a crucial step in his development.

“One of them is to increase his leadership role in the team,” Arteta told TNT Sports ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United on Saturday.

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“He’s a boy that was raised at the club, through every single brick that is necessary to be at the top level, and I think he has the right values, he has the right temperament, the right character and exceptional ability to become one of our biggest players and create legacy at this football club.

“In order to do that, his leadership role has to increase. [It’s] leadership in every way. Impacting the team, that’s leadership, making others better, creating higher standards, raising the demands in every level at the football club.

“And when that happens, then you are leading. He’s worn the armband a few times already this season, which is another step up, he’s in the leadership team, so that’s for me what he needs to do.”

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Bukayo Saka position change?

Arteta also revealed that Saka could make the transition into a centre-forward at some point in his career, similar to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.

“It’s possible,” Arteta admitted, “depending on what other tools you have in the team to fill the gap in his position.

“I think that’s something very important, because some of the players that have done that, is that because they advised that evolution on them[selves], or because they [a club] wanted to adapt another player and then they went there?

“At the moment he’s doing exceptionally where he is.”

Saka has four goals and seven assists in 12 appearances across all competitions so far this season, while his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) now stands at a whopping €117.5 million.