Saka starts from the very first day: the iron rod of Arsenal Arteta.
Saka has been a key player from the very first day. The “Arsenal” team’s ironclad structure was evident from the very beginning. When Mikel Arteta took over as the head coach of Arsenal, many expected a major overhaul of the team’s structure. But one thing was clear: Saka would always be part of the team’s starting lineup. From the very first game, the Spaniard was always in the starting lineup. This wasn’t just a coincidence; it was a deliberate tactical decision that became the foundation of a new era in Arsenal’s history.
Arteta saw Saka not just as a promising winger, but as a versatile tactical asset. His ability to play on both flanks, to move towards the center, to participate in aggressive pressuring situations, and to remain calm during crucial moments made him indispensable. Even during periods of a heavy schedule or when players had to be rotated out of the starting lineup, Saka remained a constant in the team’s formation.
The numbers prove this: more than 200 starts under Arteta’s leadership, key goals and assists in matches against top opponents. But what’s more important than statistics is trust. Saka became a living symbol of the club’s philosophy: academic discipline, character, and willingness to take responsibility.
In modern football, where teams’ rosters are changed every six months, such stability is rare. Arteta isn’t just putting Saka in the starting lineup. He’s creating a playing system around him. And when Saka is on the field, Arsenal knows that their attacking core won’t falter.