Mikel Arteta says Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is ‘one of the most intelligent players’ he’s ever seen

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Bukayo Saka and has challenged him to become a ‘ruthless winner’ next.

The 20-year-old has been a star for Arsenal for over two years now. He has taken his game to a whole new level under Arteta, but the Gunners boss feels it’s time for the youngster to take another giant step in his already-impressive career.

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Mikel Arteta challenges Bukayo Saka to become a ruthless winner

Speaking ahead of the game against Bournemouth today, Arteta was asked what Saka needs to do to take his game to the next level this season.

The Spaniard said, as per The Evening Standard: “He has to be a ruthless winner. That’s it. Simple. That’s his mentality, that’s what he needs to do.

“He needs to win football matches on his own, he needs to be living this profession: tomorrow I’m going to kill the opponent. And that’s what I want from him.

“He has this ability now he’s going through a place in his career and he needs to go to the next level right now. And I think he has the right environment to do it – he has the right people around him to do it and he’s very willing to do it. So that’s what we have to demand.

“One of the most intelligent players I’ve come across. Very well raised and educated. And he loves this football game. He has all the qualities and the right people around him to be a success. That’s what we need to work on now.”

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Saka really is a sensational player and his rise over the last three years has been nothing short of sensational.

The last time Arsenal played Bournemouth, Arteta used Saka at left-back. The youngster was brilliant there, but nobody could’ve imagined then that he’d become one of the best right-wingers in the Premier League in just over two-and-a-half years’ time.

Arteta’s right, Saka now has to take his game to the next level to be on par with the world-class players in the country. He needs to win games on his own for Arsenal, and he definitely has the ability to do that.

However, it’s important to remember that the Englishman is still only 20 years old, and there’s still a lot of time for him to become the world-class player he’s destined to be.