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Tag: Saka

  • Saka signs new long-term Arsenal contract

    Saka signs new long-term Arsenal contract

    Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has signed a new long-term contract.

    The 21-year-old England international has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season as well as providing 11 assists.

    Saka told the club website: “I’m just really happy. There’s been a lot of talking and it’s been a while, but I’m here now.

    “I think this is the right club, the right place to make the next step. It’s a beautiful club —– look where we are.

    “I think I have everything I need to become the best player I can be, and that’s why I’m happy to stay here and be here for the future, because I really believe that we can achieve big things.”

    Saka made his Gunners debut in November 2018 and has made 178 appearances in red and white.

    He added: “I have seen a lot of change. I’ve seen this team and the club grow, and one thing that everyone around us can be excited about is that we are going in the right direction.

    “It’s been too long since this club has had UEFA Champions League football.

    “I’m really looking forward to Tuesday and Wednesday nights in this stadium, the atmosphere is going to be special.”

    Saka joins goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in signing a new deal in the last few days.

    Club manager Mikel Arteta said: “It’s great for the club that Bukayo has extended his contract.

    “Retaining our best young talents is key to our continued progress and Bukayo represents such an important part of our squad now and for the future.

    “As well as being a fantastic talent, Bukayo is a special person, he’s loved by us all and he is a credit to himself and his family for the hard work and commitment they have all made to get to this level today.”

  • I will make sure Saka take next penalty – Arteta

    I will make sure Saka take next penalty – Arteta

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists Bukayo Saka remains his designated penalty taker.

    Saka missed Saturday’s spotkick for their 2-2 draw at West Ham.

    But Arteta says no change will be made, insisting: “He loves responsibility but he puts a lot on his shoulders as well. Again, if he had any doubt about how much people love him, respect him and admire him at the club I think he had a very overwhelming reaction from everyone in the building and the club.

    “In the end I think it can be something very positive that can give him a big lift because everyone acted in an unbelievable way towards him because he deserves it because of the way he is.”

    Asked if Saka will continue to take penalties, Arteta also said: “Yes. If not, I will go on the pitch and throw him the ball to make sure he takes the next one.”

  • Two players transformed Arsenal’s mentality – Saka

    Two players transformed Arsenal’s mentality – Saka

    Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has sung the praises of former Manchester City pair Gabriel Jesus and Oleks Zinchenko.

    Saka and Zinchenko go head to head in Sunday’s Euro 2024 qualifier between England and Ukraine. Ahead of the game, Saka has spoken on the influence his team-mate has made at club level.

    He said: “Zinchenko has brought quality – but he’s brought so much more. You can see how he plays and how he controls the game. He’s an outstanding player.

    “He has great leadership qualities, so he’s really helping us on all fronts. They (Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus) have brought that winning mentality to us as players who have been there and won the league.

    “In difficult moments they know how it feels, they can encourage us because we have a lot of young players. They really help us with the mental side of things.”

  • It’s unbelievable what Saka has done – Rice

    It’s unbelievable what Saka has done – Rice

    Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka earned huge praise from his England teammate Declan Rice.

    The 21-year-old Arsenal winger was instrumental for the Three Lions in an opening group stage 6-2 win over Iran on Monday.

    Saka scored twice and was a constant menace, redeeming himself after his penalty mishap during their Euro 2020 final loss to Italy.

    Midfielder Declan Rice said of his teammate post-game: “It’s unbelievable what he’s done. It says everything about his strength of character.

    “You saw what happened last summer, everyone was with him then. He’s flourishing with Arsenal.

    “He’s playing with a smile on his face. You see him around the training ground, he is the happiest person around the place. We’re all so happy for him.”

  • Saka out of England squad after positive COVID-19 test

    Saka out of England squad after positive COVID-19 test

    Bukayo Saka left the England squad on Thursday after testing positive for COVID-19.

    Three Lions’ manager Gareth Southgate has had to deal with a number of withdrawals since naming his 25-man squad last Thursday.

    Saka has become the latest to leave the group taking on Switzerland and Côte d’Ivoire after returning a positive coronavirus result.

    A statement from the Football Association (FA) read: “Bukayo Saka has left the England camp having tested positive for COVID-19.

    “The Arsenal player had been isolating from the rest of the squad at St George’s Park since Wednesday and has now returned home.

    “No further replacements are planned with a squad of 24 in place for the forthcoming fixtures.”

    Saka tweeted: “I am gutted to withdraw from @England camp but I have tested positive for COVID-19 and I will be isolating until I am negative.

    “I’ll be supporting the boys from home this weekend and I can’t wait to be back doing what I love soon”

    Arsenal forward Saka, who trained with the group on Tuesday, is the sixth player to drop out of the England camp.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Tammy Abraham and Aaron Ramsdale were ruled out through injury on Monday.

    The uncapped duo of Kyle Walker-Peters and Tyrick Mitchell were brought in along with Ollie Watkins and Sam Johnstone, only for the latter to then withdraw.

    Also, Fraser Forster was called in.

    England kick off their 2022 World Cup preparations with a home friendly against Switzerland on Saturday, before welcoming Côte d’Ivoire to Wembley on Tuesday evening.

  • Saka strikes twice as Arsenal continue winning run

    Saka strikes twice as Arsenal continue winning run

    Arsenal secured their fourth Premier League victory in a row as they ran out comfortable winners at Carrow Road and heaped more misery on bottom-of-the-table Norwich.

    Bukayo Saka opened the scoring after six minutes when he guided a low shot past Angus Gunn at the end of a slick Arsenal attack.

    The impressive Martin Odegaard, who teed up Saka’s opener, then sent Kieran Tierney through to score the away side’s second just before half-time.

    Saka added a fine third before Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty and substitute Emile Smith Rowe’s stoppage-time strike wrapped up a stress-free win for Mikel Arteta’s side.

    The Gunners maintain their six-point lead over fifth-placed Tottenham while Norwich must regroup after a 12th defeat of the season.

  • Arteta admits Saka in danger ahead of Man Utd clash

    Arteta admits Saka in danger ahead of Man Utd clash

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed Bukayo Saka could miss Thursday’s clash with Manchester United.

    The England winger was forced off during last weekend’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United.

    Arteta will assess how Saka performs in training on Wednesday before deciding if he’ll feature at Old Trafford.

    “I am hopeful but we don’t know,” Arteta said.

    “Obviously it’s a really short turnaround and the player has to be comfortable playing with a little injury, so let’s see how he is in training.”

    He continued: “We’re not going to risk our players if we believe that that can obviously go against us.

    “Playing with an injury means that he may have to leave the pitch and when someone has to leave the pitch, I believe that he’s injured, even though he’s willing to continue.

    “That injury can be 24 hours, 72 hours or a year. Bukayo is really willing. He’s been preparing for the last two days because he wants to play and let’s see how he is.”

  • Saka, Martinelli earn Arsenal comfortable win over Newcastle

    Saka, Martinelli earn Arsenal comfortable win over Newcastle

    Arsenal eventually broke Newcastle United down to leave Eddie Howe’s side bottom of the Premier League without a win.

    Howe, in the Magpies dugout for the first time after missing last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Brentford because of Covid, set up a team to try to contain Arsenal and eke out a point.

    It appeared as if the strategy might be working until Bukayo Saka slotted home from Nuno Tavares’ through ball in the second half.

    Saka went off injured and his replacement Gabriel Martinelli scored with his second touch, a wonderful volley from Takehiro Tomiyasu’s clipped pass over the top.

    “He wasn’t comfortable. He felt something,” said Gunners boss Mikel Arteta of Saka as they await news of what is wrong with the England international.

    Both sides had hit the woodwork in an otherwise uninspiring first half.

    Jonjo Shelvey’s long-range drive was tipped on to the bar by the diving Aaron Ramsdale – and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a sitter off the post from six yards out.

    Arsenal remain fifth in the Premier League, while Newcastle are five points adrift of safety with just over a third of the season gone.

  • Arsenal stars make England history in 10-0 win

    Arsenal stars make England history in 10-0 win

    Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe made England history in last night’s 10-0 World Cup qualifying win against San Marino.

    Saka and Smith Rowe stood out particularly in the opening exchanges as seemingly every Three Lions attack came down the left flank that the Arsenal duo shared for the majority of the game.

    The performances from both were made all the more impressive after they broke long-standing England records in the process.

    Saka’s header late on in the game to seal England’s tenth goal of the evening ensured the Hale End academy graduate became the youngest player to score in three consecutive starts since May 1939.

    Not to be outdone, Smith Rowe ensured it was a solid night’s work for the Arsenal boys as he became the first player to both score and assist on his first England start since Rickie Lambert eight years ago.

  • I can’t describe how disappointed I was with England penalty – Saka

    I can’t describe how disappointed I was with England penalty – Saka

    Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has broken his silence since his penalty shootout final in the final of Euro 2020.

    Saka saw his penalty saved by Gigio Donnarumma – which crowned Italy as Euro 2020 winners on Sunday.

    In a statement posted online, Saka declared: “There are no words to tell you how disappointed I was with the result and my penalty.

    “I really believed we would win this for you. I’m sorry that we couldn’t bring it home for you this year, but I promise we will give everything we’ve got to make sure this generation knows how it feels to win.

    “My reaction post match said it all, I was hurting so much and I felt like I’d let you all and my England family down, but I can promise you this… I will not let that moment or the negativity that I’ve received that week break me.”

    Saka also wrote: “I knew instantly the type of hate that I was about to receive, that is a sad reality.

    “There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football or in any area of society and to the majority of people coming together to call out the people sending these messages, by taking action and reporting these comments to the police and by driving out the hate by being kind to one another, we will win.”