Theo Walcott labelled Arsenal star boy Bukayo Saka as ‘fantastic’ after he netted a brace during England’s 6-2 win over Iran at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
From the heartache of that penalty miss at Euro 2020 to scoring a brace on your World Cup debut is some turnaround from the 21-year-old.
Arsenal are playing their best football under Mikel Arteta, sitting top of the Premier League and looking to spoil Manchester City’s party this season.
Saka has played a huge part in all of that and, with ease, he is transforming that onto the international stage, as he ripped sorry Iran apart on football’s biggest stage on Monday.
Southampton forward Walcott knows what it’s likely to be thrown into the deep end as a youngster and he was full of praise for ‘Arsenal’s boy’, as he posted on his Instagram story.
“Great start to the tournament,” said Walcott. “Pleased for Bukayo (Saka), obviously being an Arsenal boy. The two goals, it was a fantastic performance from him.
“I am actually really pleased with the subs as well because I always feel like, in tournament football, this is where it can be won, so well done and good start England. Let’s keep going,”
YOUNG STARS AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN QATAR
Saka wasn’t the only young gun producing in England colours against Iran because Jude Bellingham, the most sought-after teenager in world football, opened the scoring in Doha.
From Bellingham to Saka to Spain’s midfield technicians Gavi and Pedri, this is a World Cup full of some of football’s brightest.
At the end of it all, if Arsenal’s Hale-End star is standing tall amongst them all, then he will only blow the roof off and take his career to that ‘elite’ level post-World Cup.
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