"I couldn't believe it..." - Bukayo Saka reveals the story of how he came to wear Arsenal's No 7 shirt

Bukayo Saka revealed the story of how he came to wear Arsenal’s famous No. 7 shirt.

On Tuesday Arsenal announced that Saka had signed a new deal to stay at his boyhood club until 2027.

The England forward, who has netted 14 goals and contributed 11 assists for the Gunners this term, said the club was “in the right place to make the next step.”

Saka, who is just 21 years old, has made 178 appearances for Arsenal and has featured in all the club’s Premier League games over the past two years.

The winger said: "I'm just really happy. There's been a lot of talking and it's been a while, but I'm here now. I think this is the right club, the right place to make the next step. It's a beautiful club - look where we are.

"For me, it's about achieving my personal ambitions - how much I push myself and demand from myself each game, week in, week out. Then I have all the right people around me in terms of family, and when I come to the training ground, my teammates, the coaching staff.

"I think I have everything I need to become the best player I can be, and that's why I'm happy to stay here and be here for the future because I really believe that we can achieve big things."

Saka’s No.7 shirt

Speaking to Arsenal legend Ian Wright after the new deal was announced, Saka explained how he came to be awarded the No.7 shirt.

The heralded number has been donned by the likes of Robert Pires, Tomas Rosicky, Alexis Sanchez and David Platt.

And Saka explained his surprise when Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar immediately awarded him the No.7 when he first asked for it back in 2020, after his breakthrough season for the club.

Saka said: “[Edu’s] actually the person who helped me when I was getting my No.7. Because I had the conversation with him, and I told him which numbers I liked and I couldn’t believe it.

“He just said, ‘Yeah, okay. We can give it to you. I was like this (surprised) - like ‘You want to give me the No.7?’

“He was like, ‘Yeah, of course’. That was one of the moments I realised how much the people at this club believe in me. It was a nice moment.”

Topics: Football, Transfers, Bukayo Saka, Premier League, Arsenal, Ian Wright

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.