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Arsenal FC player Bukayo Saka is on holiday in Lagos, Nigeria, after helping his team qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners forward was warmly received as he touched down Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
He was one of the key players for Mikel Arteta’s side as they came close to ending their 19-year wait for a Premier League Medal.
Saka contributed 14 goals and 11 assists for Arsenal as they tried to dethrone Manchester City as Premier League champions.
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10:30 - 01.06.2023
Bukayo Saka: Arsenal star reportedly to meet with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Connecting with his Nigerian roots Bukayo Saka is set to team up with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
However, despite leading the table for about 248 days, they fell short in the final few matches of the 2022/23 season.
Arsenal rewarded Saka’s brilliant contribution by offering him a mouth-watering new contract to fend off interests from rival clubs.
In this report, Pulse Sports x-rays 9 interesting things about Bukayo Saka and why he has close ties with the Nigerian community.
1. Who is Bukayo Saka?
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Bukayo Saka was born on September 5, 2001, in Ealing, United Kingdom, to Nigerian immigrants of Yoruba descent.
The forward has been at boyhood club Arsenal Hale End Academy since he was eight developing himself.
And not long after his 17th birthday, the England international broke into the first team.
Unai Emery handed Saka his Arsenal debut in a Europa League game away to Ukrainian clubside Vorskla Poltava in November 2018. The Gunners ran out 3-0 winners.
Saka has a lot of respect and admiration for Emery for giving him a chance. He said,
"I have a lot of thanks to give him because he gave me so much confidence, he gave me my debut and he kept pushing me. I am grateful to him always.
"It's just something I have always dreamed of, coming up from the academy to the first team."
However, Saka had to wait a year before his first goal came in a match against German side Eintracht Frankfurt in September 2019.
2. Background
Bukayo Saka was born to a Nigerian father and mother who had left the African continent for greener pastures in the UK.
His parents Mr Yomi and Mrs Adenike Saka, are from the Yoruba tribe in Southwestern Nigeria and are devoted Christians.
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13:25 - 26.05.2023
Arsenal star boy Bukayo Saka models new 'Invincibles' home kit for 2023/24 season
Arsenal celebrates 'Invincibles' with gold stripes as Bukayo Saka models the new home kit for the 2023/24 season.
Saka has an elder brother Abayomi Saka and together lived with their parents, who always ordered him to go to bed early before big games.
Saka had his Primary School education at Edward Betham Church of England before leaving for Greenford High School where he obtained four A’s and three A’s in his GCSE.
Prior to joining Arsenal, Saka played for the youth teams at Watford FC.
Tottenham captain Harry Kane and Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho are two other English players that had a stint at Watford Academy.
3. Playing for Nigeria Vs Playing for England
Three years ago, ‘Prince of Monaco’ Victor Ikpeba urged then Super Eagles coach Genr Rohr to extend an invitation to Bukayo Saka.
However, Rohr argued that players must first show an interest in representing Nigeria before they can be invited.
Saka told BBC Sports in December 2019 that he was keeping his options open and had yet to decide on his international allegiance.
"I am always thinking about it but I haven't made a decision yet"
"No-one has been in touch but when I make a decision you will find out."
Unfortunately for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Bukayo Saka went on to play for the three Lions of England.
4. His father’s impact on his career
Yomi Saka has had an imperious impact on the footballing career of his son Bukayo, and the 21-year-old is fond of his dad.
During an interview in 2019, he said,
"He's a massive inspiration for me. From when I was young, he always kept me grounded, kept me humble and I'm sure he'll see some criticisms from tonight, something I can get better from but I'm sure I would have made him happy.”
5. Youngest Arsenal PL goalscorer
Only Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain (18y 173 days) is ahead of Bukayo Saka in terms of the youngest English player to score a Premier League goal for the Gunners.
Aged only 18 years 303 days, Saka became the second youngest Englishman to find the back of the net for Arsenal in the Premier League.
Furthermore, Saka joined an elite list of young players to have scored a PL goal for the Gunners.
Cesc Fabregas, Serge Gnarbry, Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain, Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsey, and Frenchman Nicolas Anelka are the six players who have scored for Arsenal at a younger age.
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20:00 - 31.05.2023
Nigerians rejoice as Bukayo Saka lands in Lagos for holiday
Wetin he dey do for naija? Nigerians go crazy as Bukayo Saka lands in Lagos for vacation.
6. Reaction to losing the League
After losing the Premier League title to Manchester City, Bukayo Saka admitted that the criticism by ex-Gunners players hurts a lot.
However, he was full of thanks to all the fans who have supported Arsenal throughout the Premier League campaign. He said,
“A big thank you to our fans for all the support you've given us this year. It hurts how it ended, but your support never dropped.”
“We know the levels we can reach and we are more determined than ever to achieve our goals alongside you all. Thank you again Gunners and see you soon.”
7. A committed Christian
Bukayo Saka is unapologetically a committed Christian who appreciates God for his success on and off the pitch.
He is also well-known for reading his Bible every night.
In 2020, Saka wrote to pupils of his old school while discussing if ‘fame and Christian faith go together?’ He said,
“I grew up in a Christian family who believe strongly in God. This always made me curious to get to know God more and I have done so by reading my Bible a lot and going to church a lot over the years.
"My faith is constantly being exercised when I’m put in different situations or I play in big football matches such as my England debut.”
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Saka told reporters about the importance of always having God's presence with him.
"Yeah, I’ve been continuing to do that out here with my Bible every night. For me, it’s really important to, obviously, have the presence of God in me all the time."
"It gives me more confidence that God’s plan is perfect, so I can go on the pitch and know that God has my back.”
8. Favourite Footballer
Arsenal legend and Frenchman Thierry Henry remains Bukayo Saka’s favourite player of all time.
Thiery Henry lit up Highbury stadium during his time with the Gunners scoring a record 228 goals (175 in the EPL) during his nine year stay at the club.
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While his favourite teammate is Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka also appreciates the contribution of Alexis Sanchez and Brazilian defender David Luiz.
He said former Chelsea defender David Luiz helped him the most. During a Question and Answer session, Saka said,
"He went out of his way to help many Arsenal young players with advice on and off the pitch."
9. Awards and Recognition
For his stellar performance during the 2021-2022 season, Bukayo Saka was named Arsenal’s Player of the Season.
He scored 11 goals during the campaign and was also a standout performer for the England national team as they reached the final of Euro 2020.
The 21-year-old also won the Premier League’s Player of the Month for March 2023.
That same month, London Football Awards named the Gunner’s winger as the Men’s Young Player of the Year.
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