Bukayo Saka was tested out in a new-look number ten role by Mikel Arteta as Arsenal lost 3-2 in a friendly clash with Brentford on Wednesday, according to the Mirror.
Could Mesut Ozil, the World Cup winning, former Real Madrid playmaker who trousers a remarkable £350,000-a-week, soon find himself stuck behind a teenager in the Gunners’ pecking order?
Well, if the unthinkable happens, he really only has himself to blame.
Ozil has just three assists under his belt during the 2019/20 season – six less than Saka has managed during an eye-catching debut campaign at the Emirates.
The Arsenal academy graduate has been a revelation on the left-hand side, earning comparisons with the great Gareth Bale by Gunners legend Martin Keown before adapting brilliantly to an unfamiliar full-back role since the turn of the year.
With his explosive burst of pace and pinpoint delivery from out wide, Saka might look like a born winger. But, according to The Mirror, Arteta is keen to see if the Ealing-born wonderkid has another string to his bow.
Saka was deployed in a central role as Arsenal suffered a shock defeat to promotion-chasing Brentford, sitting alongside Dani Ceballos in a fluid and creative midfield three.
With Joe Willock, Ozil and Ceballos himself all at their best in the number ten position, Saka has his work cut out if he wants to carve out a career for himself in the centre of the park.
Then again, few expected that he would become the best left-back at Arsenal either.
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