Bukayo Saka is Arsenal through and through after coming through the club's Hale End academy and wants to make history with victory in the Champions League final
Bukayo Saka has finally seen the “dream become a reality” with Arsenal.
This is the homegrown academy graduate who started at Hale End aged just seven when winning the Premier League title seemed a world away. But Saka now has the chance to complete an unprecedented Double by also winning the Champions League trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
And Saka’s story is the reason why kids dream of playing football and also why he is such a popular figure among Arsenal fans.
The winger, 24, fought hard to make it as a professional, worked even harder to win a place in the first team and now has the chance to write another chapter of history. For a certain generation of Arsenal fans, Saka is also the closest thing to club legend David Rocastle and the wonderful thing about this generation is they are writing their own stories.
Saka said: “We all know where my journey started. Seven or eight-year-old at hale End Road, this was a long, long way away trying to win the Premier League, trying to win the Champions League with Arsenal.
“It feels like this last week it’s all become a reality and tomorrow is another exciting opportunity to create more history and win another for the club that I love.”
Saka was an academy graduate, made his debut in 2018 and also lived through the bad times before establishing himself for club and country.
It was Thierry Henry, another club legend, who admitted that there was a feeling Saka might not make the grade - but his exceptional character and personality saw him through. So Saka’s No 1 fan made sure he was at the Puskas Arena to send his best wishes to the Arsenal team trying to achieve what even the Invincibles could not manage by winning the European Cup.
Saka said: “[Henry] messaged me earlier. He just said: ‘Afternoon, I’m here, I’ll see you outside after training. I’m going to be here.’
“It’s been a consistent theme, he’s been there in the good and bad moments and yeah I’ve got a lot of love for him and I appreciate him a lot.”
Saka has also been on a journey with Mikel Arteta because the Arsenal manager has transformed this club. From a laughing stock to being branded bottlers, now Arsenal are enjoying the glory.
That is also why Saka is determined to take this opportunity because they have been through so many ups and downs.
Saka said: “A lot comes to mind. We were very far away from the level we are now but Mikel made it clear that he wanted to bring Arsenal back to where we believe it belongs and that’s competing at the highest level, fighting for all the trophies.
“I’m proud I can sit here today and say that we’ve achieved that in winning the Premier League. Obviously playing in this final, it’s been a long journey with some disappointments along the way but it’s been worth it with the feeling to win that Premier League.
“The feeling with Mikel is special as well and all the players who have been on this journey and we’ve fought for each other and pick each other up at times to enjoy these moments.
“I feel like we’re a very tight knit team, we get on very well together and I feel we’re willing to fight for each other both on and off the pitch.
“That goes a long way and it helped us win the title and hopefully it will give us an advantage on the pitch here as well.”
Much has been made about Arsenal playing more minutes - incredibly, PSG ’s players have played a total of 38 games less than their opposing players which is an entire Premier League season.
But Saka says fatigue will not even come into it. “We’ve had a week to recover and we’re ready to go again and a game like this is not going to be decided on minutes,” said Saka.
“It will be decided on moments and which team can produce a bit of quality and be well organised.
“We know the history of the club, we know that tomorrow as players we can win it for the first time so that, for us as players, is a lot of motivation.”
Saka also enjoyed the best party in 22 years to celebrate the title - and is dreaming of lifting another big trophy. He added: “Personally I know exactly what it means to the fans. I’ve been here on this journey, loving this club and session the ups and the downs.
“We felt it, you know. When we won the Premier League, we could see how much it meant to the supporters.
“The parade is maybe going to be the first time we see a proper gathering of all the Arsenal fans and we’re very excited.
“But at the same time we’re trying to stay focused on this game because we’re so excited, so motivated to do something special and make the padre even more crazy. This game is our focus but then after we’re going to enjoy it.”