Former Arsenal man Ray Parlour has come out to praise Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka claiming that the 19-year-old could perform almost any role with the utmost ease.
Saka burst onto the scene last season at the Emirates when he played 26 Premier League games and most of them were as a left-back. But this campaign, he has been moved further up front and right now, he’s playing on the wings.
“From Saka’s point of view, where’s his best position. Sometimes he starts on the right side behind the striker then next minute there’s a couple of substitutions and he’s at left-back!,” Parlour told talkSPORT.
“His all round game means he can play anywhere. The only position I’m guessing he can’t play or I haven’t seen him play, is centre-half.”
During the 2019-20 season, Bukayo Saka filled up the left-back role as Kieran Tierney missed most of the campaign with an injury.
But originally, the youngster is a midfielder and surprisingly, he’s yet to play in that role regularly for the senior side.
This season, Saka has played 12 games on the right wing and seven games on the left-hand side of attack and it truly seems like he can perform any role without fuss.
But some believe this versatility could eventually be the reason for the downfall of the 19-year-old. In each of the areas he has played in so far, Mikel Arteta already has a first-choice player and if all of them manage to find form at the same time then Bukayo Saka could very well be warming the benches.
Right now, it’s all merry for the youngster but if he wishes to cement a constant place in the starting line-up at Arsenal then he will have to make one particular position his own.
Stats via TransferMarkt.
