Soccer-Arsenal hails Saka improvement after win at Southampton

Saka

27/01/2021 03:01

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Bukayo
Saka possesses leadership qualities beyond his years after the
teenage winger produced another impressive performance in
Tuesday's 3-1 win at Southampton.
    The 19-year-old scored in the first half and assisted
Alexandre Lacazette's close-range effort in the second to help
secure the victory that lifted Arsenal to eighth.
    "He's really humble, respectful and at the same time has
that character to demand the ball, to make decisions that are
not very usual for his age," Arteta told reporters. "We need
that leadership and he's gaining that with his attitude.
    "He's all the time asking to train more to improve in areas
that he can do better. That was certainly one, producing the
final bit in the box to score or assist.
    "If he's able to do that with the intelligence that he has,
with the work rate that he shows on the pitch and with the
capacity that he has to understand the game in different
positions, then he becomes a really different player."
    Arteta said midfielders Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey
would be assessed ahead of Saturday's home game against
Manchester United after being substituted due to "discomfort".
    Arsenal are on 30 points, five behind West Ham United in
fourth place, the final automatic Champions League spot for next
season.

 (Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford
)
 ((Arvind.Sriram@thomsonreuters.com;))