Exclusive: Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka grateful for ‘special’ time under Unai Emery – ‘I can never forget him’

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka remains grateful to former manager Unai Emery for giving him his chance in the senior side and said he “can never forget him”.

Saka made his first appearance for the Arsenal first-team during a UEFA Europa League group-stage clash against Vorskla Poltava in November 2018.

Emery also handed the forward his first Premier League appearance the following year before he was dismissed by the club after 18 months in charge.

Saka has since established himself as one of the best players in Europe but said he cannot forget Emery for giving his first chance to shine at Arsenal.

“For me, it was really special,” he told Laura Woods in TNT Sports’ show ‘In My Blood’. “I can never forget him – he’s the one that gave me my debut.

“Obviously you can see all the work put in to get to that stage. He gave me that moment and gave me a lot of confidence as well.

“He gave me so many more appearances so I’m always grateful to him. I’m really happy for him. Every time we play against him, I always try and say hello to him and say thank you as well.

“He was a really nice man and a really nice coach as well and I enjoyed my time under him.”

Since leaving Arsenal, Emery enjoyed a successful spell in Spain where he led Villarreal to Europa League success in 2021 before helping them reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals the following campaign.

The Spaniard has since returned to the Premier League with Aston Villa and they have enjoyed a fine season so far.

Saka and Arsenal return to league action when they host London rivals Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, January 20, which will be live on TNT Sports.

Emery was replaced by Mikel Arteta who has revitalised Arsenal since his arrival – he won the FA Cup in his first season and almost guided them to a Premier League title last season.

Saka has thrived under Arteta and said that the Spaniard was important in helping him establish himself as a key part of Arsenal’s team.

“I think he was straight down to business [when he first arrived],” Saka added. “I think we had a game about two games after he joined.

“He played me in his first game so I thought I was like: ‘Okay, this coach believes in me’.

“From then on, I just felt the belief he had in me, the confidence, the amount of games he was playing me so I was like: ‘Okay he really trusts me so I need to repay it.”

Arsenal finished behind eventual Premier League champions Manchester City last season and are fighting to clinch their first title since 2004 this term.

The Gunners overcame Pep Guardiola’s side in the season-opener at Wembley by winning the Community Shield in August, and Saka said that victory gave the team confidence to know that City could be beaten.

“We beat City and we hadn’t been them in a while so it was really significant for us as a team,” he said.

“Obviously as a player, you love to win trophies and silverware but obviously, City have been a big rival for us, especially last season, and I don’t remember a game where I’ve beaten them for a long time or if it’s even ever happened.

“That was really significant to me to be able to beat them.”

Saka has enjoyed another fine campaign with nine goals and 11 assists in all competitions so far, but said one of his best moments came when he was handed the captain’s armband earlier this campaign.

The 22-year-old led Arsenal when they cruised to a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United in October and said he still has the armband at home.

“I don’t know if I can say this is the biggest moment for me,” Saka added. “I’ve been at Arsenal my whole life so to wear that band was really special.

“To be able to lead the boys out and speak to them was funny. I’m still quite young and obviously me speaking in the team talks, some of the boys found it funny.

“I was a really nice moment for me and we won the game 5-0 so this is a day I will never forget and I’ve got that armband in my house, in my room on top of my bed.”

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