Bukayo Saka has been lavishing praise on Arsenal team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but admitted that he can sometimes incur the wrath of the red-hot striker.
Aubameyang has been the Gunners’ captain for around 18 months after Granit Xhaka was stripped of the armband by Unai Emery early in the 2019-20 campaign.
Arsenal have had their fair share of vocal captains in the past – including Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira – but the Gabon international seems to be a figure who leads by example by scoring goals.
But 19-year-old sensation Saka has given an insight into the 31-year-old’s leadership qualities, revealing that he can and does give him freedom on the field after occasionally upsetting the veteran hitman.
He told Bein Sport: “Sometimes he would tell you, you would have to pass to him and if you make a mistake then he can be quite angry.
“But the game where I scored my first goal for Arsenal against Frankfurt, before the game he said to me, ‘Bukayo, you know you’re very good player. If you’re there in front of goal and you want to shoot – shoot! I’m not going to say anything’. My parents love him so much as well!”
Saka might’ve been quite complimentary toward Aubameyang’s leadership here, but it is under scrutiny at the moment.
Mikel Arteta benched him for Sunday’s 2-1 North London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur for disciplinary reasons, relating to a breach in pre-match protocol.
Whatever the specifics are, Aubameyang, as skipper, really should conduct himself better and set a more positive example to the younger players.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
