With Arsenal in the perfect position to seal their first Premier League title and Champions League final, Bukayo Saka has come to life at the right time for the Gunners.
This has not been the best campaign for Hale Ender on a personal level, but with a goal and an assist against Fulham, followed by a crucial strike against Atletico Madrid that sent them to Budapest, he is now back in form.
It was a magical moment when Saka found the net against Atleti. He was in the first team XI for Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge back in December 2019 and has stood his ground through thick and thin. If he lifts one or two major medals before the end of the season, it will be a great reward for all his hard work.
That said, Saka’s wide position has been one of Arsenal’s biggest problems this season. Noni Madueke has only two league goals and Gabriel Martinelli has just one. Improvement is needed.
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Considering the tricky patches of form most Arsenal players have experienced this summer, the return of Saka and Leandro Trossard in recent weeks could not have been more timely.
That means, on the left side, they need to spend money. Prior to finding the net against West Ham, Trossard had not scored in his last 25 games. It wasn’t good enough.
Because of this, it is not surprising to see links emerge for players such as PSG’s Bradley Barcola and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon. That being said, Bayern Munich will look to be leading the race for the successors.
While signing a quality winger like Barcola is a must, the Gunners are also busy with a future proving team. This is where Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga comes into the equation.
According to a reliable source, Arsenal Hand, Arsenal have ‘presented a serious offer’ to the player’s camp. Discussions are ongoing and a big factor in the player joining is centered on what his path to the first team would look like.
The HOA also points out that if Monga agrees to join, Arsenal will still need to agree a compensation fee with Leicester.
This is because the striker is only 16 years old and is yet to sign a professional contract with the Foxes. The Midlands side were relegated to League One at the end of the Championship season, which led to strong interest in Monga’s services.
Why Monga could be Arsenal’s new Saka
In 2018, Unai Emery offered his 17-year-old Saka from Arsenal. There’s not much to thank the Spanish manager for but we have to give him credit for throwing the Arsenal star into the firing line.
Since then, he has been one of the best players in English football. Monga can follow in his footsteps.
As it turns out, the teenager is the third youngest player in Premier League history. The two players above him are Arsenal players; Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.
|
Youngest players in Premier League history |
|
|---|---|
|
The player |
The early years |
|
1) Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) |
15 years, 5 months |
|
2) Max Dowman (Arsenal) |
15 years, 7 months |
|
3) Jeremy Monga (Leicester) |
15 years, 8 months |
|
4) Harvey Elliot (Fulham) |
16 years, 1 month |
|
5) Matt Briggs (Fulham) |
16 years, 2 months |
|
6) Izzy Brown (West Brom) |
16 years, 3 months |
|
7) Aaron Lennon (Leeds) |
16 years, 4 months |
|
8) Jose Baxter (Everton) |
16 years, 6 months |
|
9) Joel Drakes-Thomas (Palace) |
16 years, 6 months |
|
10) Gary McSheffrey (Coventry) |
16 years, 6 months |
So, he’s already in good company and it’s proof that he’s one of the biggest talents in the country right now, even if Leicester are relegated to the second tier.
Monga’s numbers are not great at the top level. He scored just one goal and registered two assists this season but let’s not forget that this boy is 16 years old. The very fact that he has played 37 times in the top flight is amazing.
So, what does it offer? However, he is hailed as “England’s Ousmane Dembele” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, noting that Monga is “pacy and an excellent dribbler” who is “a deadly finisher and a two-footed striker.”
That sounds an awful lot like Saka, doesn’t it? Although Arsenal’s number 7 may have lost some range since suffering a hamstring injury last season, he is a brilliant shot-stopper, perhaps one of the best from close range in the Premier League. He has also worked hard on his ball with both feet and can be dangerous with his weaker right foot at the goalkeeper’s near post.
Like Saka, Monga made his breakthrough as a young player in English football and although he may not be at his best yet, there are plenty of reasons to believe he is the England player of the future.
To think that Arsenal could have Saka, Monga, Nwaneri and Dowman all in their squad next season is very exciting.
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