Stephy Mavdidi, Saka’s former clubmate, has hailed the youngster’s meteoric rise to the Arsenal first team.
Bukayo Saka has surprised many with the way he has made the step up to senior football, but not Juventus star, Mavdidi.
The youngster, currently on loan at Dijon, spent eight years at the Arsenal Academy around the time when Saka was wreaking havoc with the junior sides.
The Anglo-Nigerian has since made his first-team breakthrough, first under former Gunners manager Unai Emery and presently with Mikel Arteta.
Saka has made 15 Premier League appearances this term, mostly as a left full-back. It is still an impressive haul for the 18-year-old who only saw action in one league game last season.
The youngster’s star shone even brighter during the group stages of the Europa League, where he netted twice and supplied four assists in just four games for the Londoners.
And Mavididi is delighted to see a fellow England youth international fulfil the potential he showed as a kid.
“I remember when I was at Hale End, I must have been about 13 or 14, and I used to watch Bukayo [Saka] with the Under-8s,” Mavididi told Goal.
“He used to just get the ball and run through the whole team and score. It was the same with Reiss [Nelson].
“Now they are really taking their chance, and I‘m so happy for them. Arsenal has always been about producing good young talent, and that’s what is happening there now.
“For the young players, it’s just about taking your opportunity once you get it, and I think the young players who are playing now are doing that.
“It’s good to see my friends doing so well.”
Saka is currently recuperating from an injury that forced him off the pitch at halftime during Arsenal’s 0-0 draw at Burnley a week ago.
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