The Day I Will Never Forget – Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka

The Nigeria-eligible youngster is enjoying the most significant moments in his career to date, but one moment stands out as the most memorable.

Bukayo Saka points at the day he made his senior debut at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal as one he will never forget in a hurry.

The versatile winger has detailed the sacrifices his parents and sibling made to see him make a career out of football and was thrilled to have them witness the moment when his dream to play for the Gunners came true.

With hundreds of kids passing through the Arsenal Academy regularly, only a handful ever made it to the senior team.

Saka showed signs he could be one of the few when he signed his first professional contract with the north London club as soon as he turned 17.

His big chance came in November 2018, when former Arsenal manager, Unai Emery handed the wonder kid his senior competitive debut for Arsenal in their Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava.

But it was the day Saka made his first full home debut in a Europa League match against FK Qarabag – with his family watching – that got the England youth international emotional.

“My first-team debut last year was in Ukraine, so that wasn't an easy one to get to for them, but two weeks later, my family were all there when I started my first game at the Emirates,” Saka told Arsenal.com.

“It was a few months after my 17th birthday, against Qarabag in the Europa League, and I was told I would be starting the day before the game. I couldn't sleep at all! My dad told me he was that same.

“They came to the game to support me, and I remember seeing how happy they looked afterwards. I framed my shirt from that game – it's on the wall at home.

“I will never forget that day. I actually had a big chance to score in that game too, but the way I see it is I learnt from that, and now I want to keep on learning,” Saka added.