Theo Walcott Weighs In On What Bukayo Saka Should Do Next Amid Man City And Liverpool Links

Arsenal goal centurion Theo Walcott has thrown his support behind the club in the developing Bukayo Saka saga. 

The 33-year-old knows the feeling of unadulterated affection from the Gunners faithful, and he is eager to see Saka develop under the Emirates spotlight, telling TalkSport that there is “obviously a transitional stage” underway at his club of 12 years, and that the Hale End prodigy is “massively a part of that”.

The 20-year-old has been in scintillating form this season, averaging a goal contribution every 168 minutes in the league for his childhood club. 

Saka's stocks have grown exponentially this season, drawing praise from all corners of the footballing world. Brazilian national team manager Tite went on record as stating if he could have any England player, it would be the young Englishman. High praise from a man that has the likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr and co. amongst those in his arsenal. 

With just two years left on his contract, Arteta is eager to get his star man tied down to a long-term deal for the Gunners, a club that has been Saka’s home since the age of seven. 

There is a sense of confidence that the PFA Young Player of the Year will extend his stay at his boyhood club, a confidence that the former no.14 shares, arguing that Saka “likes the area of London in Arsenal”, before going onto say that “the fans have been fantastic” with the 20-year-old.

The bond between player and fans is unlike any other in recent times, and the Gunners faithful will be eager to see their starboy put pen to paper in the near future. 

Being the franchise player of a club of Arsenal’s stature at 20 years old is a testament to the rapid rise of a player Arteta is wholly dependent on for the coming seasons. Whilst there is a quiet optimism around the Emirates that their Hale End sensation will commit his long-term future, nothing is set in stone. 

With a recent history of players around the globe running down their contracts to assess their options, a trend the great Arsene Wenger predicted in 2017, there is no certainty around an immediate extension for Saka. For now, both player and club are happy, from the Gunners side, they will hope that happiness transitions into a new long term deal.