Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s matchwinner against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League (Picture: Getty)
Joe Cole believes Arsenal have a ‘gem’ on their hands but must resolve his contractual situation as an absolute priority.
The England international’s stock continues to rise and with three goals in his last two games his importance to Mikel Arteta’s rapidly improving side cannot be understated.
Fresh from scoring the decisive penalty in Sunday’s landmark win over Liverpool, Saka made his first appearance in this season’s Europa League, somewhat surprisingly, in Norway last night.
The 21-year-old proved to be the matchwinner again, albeit with a rather fortuitous strike which he knew very little about.
Saka, a Hale End academy graduate, is the poster boy of Arsenal’s emerging team which looks set to challenge Manchester City’s domestic dominance this season. But with time running out on his current contract, former Chelsea star Cole warned it won’t be long before Saka is attracting attention from elsewhere.
Bukayo Saka’s fortuitous goal ensured Arsenal maintained leadership of Europa League Group A (Picture: Getty)
Cole told BT Sport: ‘You have to understand how young he is, where he is in his career. Arsenal have got such a gem here.
‘He’s already so experienced. He’s one of the leaders on the team on the pitch. He takes responsibility.
‘He’s a fantastic player and he’s one that Arsenal have got to tie down and build this new regime this new great side that seems to be emerging (around him).
‘The beauty with him is you can use him there on the left of a front three, you can use him as a No 10, a left wing back, on the right wing.
‘But he’s just a fantastic footballer and he’s getting his education through Arteta and fantastic players.
‘Young players around him have all got his energy and they’ve kept it going tonight. It’s important momentum at this stage of the season.’
MORE : Mikel Arteta bemoans Arsenal injury problems after win at Bodo/Glimt
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The England star’s stock continues to rise.