Bukayo Saka names three Arsenal stars he admired, including one who played just 12 times

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is blazing a trail for the club's academy and it was three Hale End stars before him who once inspired him.

Legendary Gunner Manager Arsene Wenger once stated that the club “doesn't buy superstars.” We do them' – and Saka is living proof.

Saka is the latest academic product of his time on the Gunners' books and has taken on the role of role model for the next generation.

The English winger said goodbye to his fellow Hale End graduates Emile Smith-RoweReiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah this summer.

Smith Rowe and Nelson joined Fulham to link up with another ex-Gooner, Alex Iwobiwho also passed through the ranks of the Emirates Stadium.

Saka named the 28-year-old as one of his academy role models alongside a player who only made 12 first-team appearances.

“When I was in the academy we all looked at Alex Iwobi, Chuba Akpom and Jack Wilshere“, said club website.

“They had come through the academy, they were quite old too and we were able to attend a lot of games at the Emirates Stadium, so we were able to see them play a lot.

“Obviously, Jack at that time was really flying; he was a joy to watch. We all loved seeing him and we also saw a lot of ourselves in him because he had arrived at what we wanted. Same for Alex and same for Chuba.”

The trio played in England's youth ranks during their time in Arsenaland Saka also shares Nigerian heritage with Iwobi, who opted to represent the Super Eagles in 2015, and Ajax's Akpom.

Saka has lifted the FA Cup with Arsenal as have Wilshere and Iwobi, but it was the man who never won a title at the club who made the biggest impression.

Akpom joined Arsenal's academy at the age of six and made his Premier League debut against SunderlandEdit at 17.

5

5

Then the chief of the gunners Wenger challenged him to become a 'great talent' after scoring a hat-trick in a pre-season friendly win against a Singapore Select XI in 2015.

However, Akpom struggled to get a regular place in his 239 senior minutes and was loaned to Brentford, coventry, Nottingham ForestHull, Brighton and Belgian Sint-Truiden.

The last of his 12 appearances for Arsenal was a 4-2 defeat to Forest in an FA Cup clash in January 2018, ten months before Saka made his debut.

However, Akpom left a lasting impression on the 23-year-old after one of his appearances at the Emirates.

Saka added: “In fact, I will always remember when I received Chuba's jersey after a match. It was after he entered a match at the Emirates Stadium.

“He knows it because he was at Hale End, and I know it because I was there too; We know where the Hale End boys sit in the stadium. Then later, when he heard us all shouting his name, he threw his shirt at us and I was the one who caught it!

5

5

“I remember being very happy that day. I think I even texted him on Instagram afterwards to tell him I got it! I was about 13 years old and it's a great memory to have.

“Things like that stick with you, so after games at the Emirates, if I see the Hale End boys I always try to give them my boots or my shorts or something, because I know what it means. For us it may be a small thing, but as a child it can mean everything.”

Akpom was sold to the Greek club PAOK in 2018 before returning to England to play Middlesbrough where it soon flourished after a slow start.

The forward starred with Michael Carrick and scored 28 goals in 35 Championship games in 2022/23 to earn a move to Ajax.

Meanwhile, Saka has consistently been credited for his role in fostering the academic duo. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneriwho have broken in Mikel Artetaon the side this season.