Bukayo Saka believes Arsenal have “the opportunity to make history”, with the winger linking the club’s ambitions to a period he feels can finally deliver major trophies.
Bukayo Saka has offered a clear statement of Arsenal’s ambitions in an exclusive interview with CNN Sports, saying the club is “going in the right direction” and stressing that the squad are now competing on all major fronts.
For Arsenal, the significance of the interview lies not just in the optimism of the message, but in the timing. Saka is no longer speaking as a young player trying to establish himself. He is one of the faces of the team, and his words reflect the expectations around Arteta’s side now
“The club is going in the right direction, for sure,” Saka told CNN Sports. “We have an amazing team and we’re back fighting for every trophy, so no place I’d rather be.”
Arsenal have spent the past few seasons re-establishing themselves among the Premier League and Champions League contenders, but the next step is the hardest one. Saka acknowledged as much when reflecting on the frustration of previous near-misses. “It’s not a nice thing. No one’s happy to go through them,” he said. “What you learn is crucial and you just have to take it into the moment now which we’re in and try and do what we can to not have any miss next time.”
Process over fixation
One of the more revealing parts of the interview was Saka’s refusal to frame Arsenal’s season around a single competition. “It’s counterproductive to focus solely on (the Premier League),” he said. “You have to do what you can day-to-day because you can’t control the outcome. We’re in control, so we’re just looking forward to that.”
That is a measured line, and it fits the tone Arsenal have tended to set under Arteta. Publicly, the manager and players have often stressed standards, preparation and consistency over wider noise. Saka’s comments follow that pattern, but they also carry extra weight because of his standing within the squad.
REUTERS / David KleinArteta’s influence remains central
Saka also used the interview to underline Arteta’s role in his development, and he did so in unusually direct terms. “He’s been pivotal for me, crucial in my development,” he said. “I’ve become a much better player under him. He’s trusted me a lot and I’m very grateful. When people ask me what I want in a coach it’s him.”
Despite Unai Emery giving Saka his Arsenal debut, his rise from academy graduate to one of Arsenal’s defining players has happened under Arteta, and the winger’s words suggest he sees the manager as central not only to his own progress but to the team’s wider direction, showing his faith by signing a new five-year contract with Arsenal.
Saka’s confidence in Arsenal’s chances is clearly tied to confidence in the coach leading them and the leadership and responsibility he now holds. “There are different types of captains, some are more vocal, some lead by example. I’ll just be myself,” he said. He added, “I don’t think too much about it. If you think about it and you force it, it’s not going to be received well because people can see if you’re not being yourself. I just try and live in the moment … It’s just my instincts.”
Saka doesn’t speak like a player detached from the pressure around Arsenal’s next step. He is speaking as someone shaped by Arteta, comfortable with responsibility and clear about the standards now attached to this squad.