The adolescent is enjoying a breakout season with the Gunners and Lacazette believes he should be considered the league’s best child.
Alexandre Lacazette considers Arsenal prospect Bukayo Saka has a claim to being the Premier League’s best young player after breaking in the Gunners’ first-team.
Saka, 18, has been a revelation for Arsenal this period, playing 26 times across all contests having enjoyed an eye-catching pre-season.
Predominantly a winger, Saka has been used in full-back lately and taken to the new role with remarkable ease, staying a helpful outlet to operate from slightly farther back.
The England youth worldwide has less than 18 months left on his Arsenal contract and Mikel Arteta has previously spoken of his desire to tie his many promising kids down to long-term bargains.
And Lacazette talked glowingly of the adolescent — that became the youngest player to help in successive Premier League appearances since Francis Jeffers in 1999 when he teed up Eddie Nketiah’s equaliser in the 3-2 win over Everton on Sunday — before Thursday’s Europa League last-32 second leg against Olympiacos, with the Gunners 1-0 up from their initial meeting in Piraeus.
“He is really great,” Lacazette told reporters at a news conference. “I think he’s possibly the best young player in the league.
“He wants to improve in a few things, but we can observe the quality he has, and he is humble – that is the best thing, I believe, for him.
“He is really humble, he would like to work and takes criticism because he needs to improve.”
When asked what makes Saka the league’s best young player, Lacazette responded:”Why is Saka the best? It is simple, his caliber. He has a fantastic left foot and, because he is humble, it is there for him to improve.”
Saka made his full debut for Arsenal at the Europa League last season and has played 29 times for the club in all competitions.
Given England’s relative lack of depth at left-back, he might find himself in contention for Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2020.
For today, Saka will be centered on the Gunners’ home match with Olympiacos on Thursday, followed by an FA Cup battle at Portsmouth on Monday evening.
Arsenal then have league fixtures with West Ham, Brighton and Southampton as they look to keep their challenge on the European eligibility areas.
