Arsenal agree wonderkid signing as Bukayo Saka plan emerges
Arsenal have added an exciting attacker to their academy ranks with a long-term Bukayo Saka plan potentially in place. The Gunners have brought numerous exciting players through their famed Hale End academy, though Mikel Arteta has struggled to convince emerging new stars to stay at the Emirates Stadium.
The likes of Folarin Balogun, Reuell Walters and Amario Cozier-Duberry are among those to have departed recently in search of more opportunities. Meanwhile, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe, two stars to have broken into the senior team, were clearly unhappy as fringe players and have since joined Crystal Palace and Fulham, respectively.
While Arsenal would have been disappointed to lose two homegrown stars, Arteta and Edu were able to negotiate a total of £64million to seal their exits. Though Smith Rowe and Nketiah failed to make it at their boyhood club, Bukayo Saka is one homegrown player thriving.
In the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain, he captained the side in the absence of Martin Odegaard and marked the occasion by scoring goal number 60 for the Gunners. Saka’s importance to Arteta has become clear over the last few seasons and as such, he has been unable to identify a suitable back-up option.
Reiss Nelson looked to be that man following a number of scintillating displays off the bench in the 2022/23 season but his influence waivered and he has subsequently joined Fulham on a season-long loan. Raheem Sterling arrived at Emirates Stadium in a temporary deal but that looks to be a short-term solution.
With that in mind, the Gunners may have to wait a number of years before a successor emerges with it recently confirmed the club have agreed a deal to sign under-15s winger Joshua Sesay from Millwall, as per Rising Ballers. The teenager can play on both flanks and has been impressing at youth level recently.
Following the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri, Arteta will be keen to repeat his early success with Sesay, though he will first spend some time at the academy although there is always the possibility for a call-up to senior team training.
