Bukayo Saka’s former youth coach has expressed amazement at the Arsenal star’s meteoric rise to becoming one of the Premier League’s standout right-wingers.
Saka, now 23, is widely regarded as one of the league’s top talents, showcasing consistency and skill in his position. However, his ex-coach admits he never anticipated such a transformation, considering Saka’s beginnings in a different role.
Saka’s football journey began at Watford before he joined Arsenal’s academy at just eight years old, displaying early promise with his speed and strength. His adaptability allowed him to play across various positions, a trait that later became instrumental in his success with Arsenal’s first team.
Recognizing his unique talent, Arsenal offered Saka scholarship terms while he was still an Under-14, an unusual move that underscored their confidence in his potential.
Dan Micciche, Saka’s former youth coach at Arsenal, recently shared his thoughts on Saka’s evolution. “If you were to ask me back then if I saw Bukayo becoming such an outstanding right-winger, I would have said no,” Micciche admitted. “Not because he couldn’t play right-wing, but he was a really good left-back!”
Despite his early days as a left-back, Saka has developed into one of the league’s most effective right-wingers and recently became the sixth-youngest player in Premier League history to reach 50 goals—surpassing even Arsenal legend Thierry Henry at that milestone.
