"They were kind of like my big brothers" - Bukayo Saka says he misses 3 former Arsenal teammates
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka recently admitted that he misses his former teammates. The Englishman said that he misses his fellow graduates Emile Smith-Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson.
Bukayo Saka joined Arsenal's Hale End Academy at the age of seven and came through their youth system. He made his senior team debut in November 2018 as a 17-year-old after 10 years in the academy.
It was there where he formed a bond with Smith-Rowe, Nketiah and Nelson - all three players left the club in the summer. The 23-year-old winger spoke about how the trio helped him transition from an academy youngster to a first-team player.
In the Men in Blazers podcast, Bukayo Saka admitted that he misses them.
"Yeah, I’m not going to lie, I’ve missed them a bit you know. Since I came into the first-team they were kind of like my big brothers with the way they welcome me and stuff like that," Saka said.
All three players left for other Premier League clubs, with Nketiah and Smith-Rowe making permanent moves to Crystal Palace and Fulham, respectively. Reiss Nelson joined Smith-Rowe at Craven Cottage, but on a season-long loan.
"They're going to shine in the Premier League this year" - Bukayo Saka on his former Arsenal teammates
Bukayo Saka praised his former teammates, calling them "top players" and predicted them to shine in the league this season.
"So yeah, it wasn’t easy to see them all go, but at the same time, I’m really happy for them because they’re three top, top players with so much quality and I’m sure they’re going to shine in the Premier League this year," he added.
Emile Smith-Rowe spent eight years with the academy before making his senior team debut in September, 2018. In January 2019, however, he was sent on loan to RB Leipzig and the next season at Huddersfield Town. Although he broke into the team in 2020, injury troubles in the last two seasons saw him lose his place in the starting XI before being sold to Fulham this summer.
Eddie Nketiah's time at Hale End wasn't long as he was signed from the Chelsea Academy in 2015. After honing his skills for two seasons, he made his debut for the senior team in September 2017. He was sent on loan to Leeds United for the 2019-20 season and was eventually sold to Crystal Palace after falling behind Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for the No. 9 spot.
Reiss Nelson came through the ranks at Arsenal but could never establish himself as a regular with the first team. He graduated in 2017, making his first-team debut under Arsene Wenger. The 24-year-old forward, however, was sent on loan to Hoffenheim and Feyenoord after failing to break through the ranks. This season, the Arsenal youngster has joined Fulham on loan, but is widely speculated to leave the club next season.