Bukayo Saka could be shining light for Arsenal if given chance to shine at left-back

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Arsenal’s hopes of closing the gap to the top-four of the Premier League were hampered yesterday as Manchester City thrashed them 3-0.

The Gunners are in dire straits. Unai Emery was sacked and replaced on an interim basis by Freddie Ljungberg.

The Swede’s appointment hasn’t gone according to plan and a permanent successor to Emery is surely on the horizon.

One win in five games for Ljungberg won’t exactly enhance his chances of getting the job on a long-term basis.

That doesn’t mean he hasn’t done some good during his time in charge, however.

On Thursday he utilised Bukayo Saka as a left wing-back and it proved a fruitful decision with the 18-year-old scoring a goal and creating an assist.

The youngster is the future of Arsenal and in Kieran Tierney’s absence, he seems like the logical choice at left-back.

Sead Kolasinac was handed the nod to start yesterday. He was given the runaround for 40 minutes and departed the action just before half-time with an injury.

Saka replaced him and once again looked assured during the second half.

Having come through the ranks as a left-wing back it’s a position that isn’t uncommon for the youngster.

Saka is fearless, energetic and works hard for the team. He is viewed as a real star of the future and giving him the chance to play regularly isn’t a bad thing.

The jury remains out on Kolasinac and if the 26-year-old departed tomorrow, it wouldn’t cause too much upset among the Arsenal faithful.

Saka’s future might be in a more advanced role but given how exciting he can be on the ball he is capable of raising the roof at the Emirates Stadium.

Blood the youngsters

Given Arsenal’s current predicament it’s perhaps not the worst time to blood the youngsters.

The likes of Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson are all set for bright futures. Now could be the perfect time to throw them in and given them a chance to shine.

Saka at left-back might be viewed by some as a square peg in a round hole. He would perhaps complement the exciting brand of football wanted by supporters, more than £100,000-a-week Kolasinac does.