Bukayo Saka has enjoyed another stellar season for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Bukayo Saka has revealed Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium is his favourite ground to play at.
Arsenal face the Red Devils on Sunday knowing only a win will do if they are to retain even an outside chance of ending their 20-year wait for the Premier League title.
The Theatre of Dreams has been anything but a happy hunting ground for the north London club in recent years with their only win since 2006 coming four years ago when no fans were in attendance.
Saka does, at least, have some fond memories of United’s home having registered an assist during a breakthrough performance when Unai Emery was still in charge.
The 22-year-old also scored against United in last season’s 3-1 defeat while he registered his first England hat-trick at the same venue in last year’s thrashing of North Macedonia.
‘Growing up watching football, because I love football, I’ve been watching football for years,’ the Arsenal winger told Sky Sports.
‘The special nights you’ve seen in the Preimer League and in the Champions League at Old Trafford. It was nice to be on the pitch and to play.
Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal’s opening goal in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)
‘I’ve played there a few times now and it’s definitely my favourite stadium to play in.’
Despite his relatively tender age, Saka currently ranks as one of the more experienced players in Mikel Arteta’s emerging young team.
The Arsenal manager has relied heavily on the Hale End Academy graduate again this term, but Saka is more than comfortable with accepting extra responsiblity.
‘It’s just the hunger to win that keeps me going,’ he told Arsenal’s official website. ‘That’s why I keep getting up. It’s part of it.
‘I feel like I’m physically much stronger than I was four or five years ago. I’ve got more experience now, in terms of knowing which tackles to go through and which ones to jump. I try to avoid the big tackles, so I think I’m much smarter now as well as being more physical.
More Trending
‘I’m just trying to play the game, do what the game takes. If I stay on the floor then it can disrupt the momentum we’ve built up in the team, so I just try to get on with it.
‘Yes, he told me that the elite players all do that, so if I want to be at that level too then I need to be ready to play that many games.
‘I need to try and help my team in all of those games too. It’s big numbers, but it’s achievable. You see the best players in the world doing it, so I believe I can do it as well.’