Premier League | ‘Must be cautious with Saka’: Mikel Arteta

Arteta says youngster is having the right progression

December 30, 2020 10:20 pm | Updated 10:21 pm IST - London

Guiding hand: Mikel Arteta is convinced of Bukayo Saka’s potential and hopes to help him develop further.

Guiding hand: Mikel Arteta is convinced of Bukayo Saka’s potential and hopes to help him develop further.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was impressed with midfielder Bukayo Saka’s display in the 1-0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday but said it was important not to expect too much too soon from the English teenager.

Saka, who scored in Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Chelsea on Saturday, was a constant threat against Brighton and set up Alexandre Lacazette’s 66th minute winner.

The 19-year-old made his England debut in October after a breakthrough 2019-20 season and has been a rare bright spark in Arsenal’s turbulent campaign.

The win lifted Arsenal to 13th on 20 points and eased some of the pressure on Spaniard Arteta after a rocky run of seven games without a win had left it only four points above the relegation zone.

“I would like everybody to be cautious and let him be and let him develop. I think he’s having the right progression,” Arteta told reporters of Saka.

“I think he’s got the right people around him in his house in his entourage. And he’s got the right team mates as well to support him all the time, give him confidence, keep his feet on the floor.

“And hopefully we can be the right coaches around him, be the right club to see the player that he can be in the future.”

More belief

Tuesday’s win was Arsenal’s first back-to-back league victories since the opening two games of the season and Arteta said it should give the players more belief.

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