Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has stated that he ‘can’t believe’ Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka started as a left-back given his recent showing for England.
On Sunday, Gareth Southgate’s England breezed past Ukraine 2-0 in their Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley, with Bukayo Saka assisting and scoring for his nation – Gary Lineker called him a ‘wonderfully gifted footballer’.
Whether it’s on the training pitch, as a teammate or as an opponent, Ben Chilwell gets to see the 21-year-old’s magic first-hand and he made it clear that he is ‘such a great talent’.
Not only was that curling effort just before the half-time break Saka’s eighth for his nation, but it’s another goal to his name during a season when he could win the Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, with their star boy on the left recently becoming the first player this season to hit double figures in both goals and assists.
He is carrying on that magic onto the international stage, with Chilwell lauding the player for what he does, both on and off the pitch, as he told Hayters TV.
“I can’t believe he (Saka) played at left-back when he can do that,” said Chilwell. “Such a great talent. I think everyone can see what he gives on the pitch.
“He is one of the best people I have met in football as well. We see him on a daily basis around camp and he just brings happiness to everyone else. He is always smiling and a good guy to be around, and then he comes out on the pitch and delivers like that for us.
“An assist and a goal and it ultimately wins us the game. I am delighted for him.”
SAKA CONTINUES TO SHINE
The £70k-a-week Arsenal star (Spotrac) was a fresh-faced teenager when he first came through the first-team ranks under Unai Emery.
The now-Aston Villa boss deployed Saka at left-back, before he was pushed further forward.
From the transformation of Granit Xhaka, the rise of Gabriel Martinelli as an unknown player from Brazil to Saka making the Hale-End academy proud with his first-team performances.
There have been many success stories under Mikel Arteta and Saka’s might just be the best one.
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