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Rio Ferdinand praised Bukayo Saka’s maturity and stated that the teenager is already a leader in the Arsenal squad after he helped them continue their good form in a 3-1 win over Southampton.
The Gunners notched their fifth win in six Premier League games to climb to eighth in the table, with the 19-year-old on the score sheet for second and an assist for third from Alexandre Lacazette.
The England international has been a consistent and versatile player during a troubling campaign for Mikel Arteta’s side and is a key reason for his recent turnaround.
And his performance in the win against the Saints, which saw them exact revenge for a 1-0 loss in the FA Cup at the weekend, had Ferdinand focus on one man for his post-game praise.
‘It was tremendous. His skill, the maturity with which he plays, is also impressive, ”the former England defender told BT Sport.
When asked if Saka was already a leader at Arsenal, Ferdinand replied: ‘In terms of performance, yes. In terms of performance and performance on that field, senior players will look at him and say “wow, I hope he’s on the team.”
“What he’s doing is more than most on that team and it can’t go unnoticed. I think Arteta knows his worth and his value to this team.”
“ The good thing about this is that yes, Arsenal are bringing in young players, but they are putting them through, they are having a massive effect and they are becoming an integral part of any advancement at this club. ”
Despite being still a teenager, Saka has already racked up 67 appearances for Arsenal after graduating from their academy and is one of the first names on Arteta’s team sheet.
After making his senior gunners debut in 2019, Saka has gone from strength to strength and his talent has been recognized for the England national team, with four caps to his name.
His ability to perform well in several different positions has caught the attention of many after being deployed on the right against the Saints, but has appeared on the left, both in defense and attack.
Ferdinand added on Saka’s quality: ‘He can play one and two touches. Play with both feet. His decision-making, which to me is someone who plays far beyond his years.
“You can see that he is so comfortable wherever he plays. He has already played about 5 or 6 positions on this team. They have been fighting, doing well and fighting all season. It has been a constant. ‘
After the victory, Saka said: ‘I am happy to play for Arsenal. It’s a dream, so I have that passion when I go out onto the pitch.
“The boss makes everything clear to me and gives me the freedom to go and do whatever I want in the last third, so I’m very happy with that.
“I am very happy with everyone, not just Cedric and Laka. I’m so happy to get all 3 points here. ‘
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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