Bukayo Saka reveals the special honour that Arteta gave him on Saturday

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has expressed his delight at captaining the Arsenal side in their recent Premier League match against Sheffield United. With regular captain Martin Odegaard not starting the game, Saka was given the opportunity to lead the team out onto the pitch.

Reflecting on the experience, Saka said as per Arsenal Media, “I don’t really know how to describe it. You know me and you know where I’ve come from: the academy. To be at the front, leading the boys out today was just unbelievable. I’m lost for words – it’s hard to describe this feeling. It’s just amazing. I enjoyed it. It was a different experience.”

Despite being new to the role, Saka embraced the challenge and focused on helping his team secure a victory. He admitted that there were moments when he wasn’t sure where he was supposed to be on the pitch but praised his teammates for their performance.

“Obviously, I was learning on the job. Sometimes I didn’t know where I was supposed to be! But in the end, we played well, which was the most important thing. We got the three points,” Saka told Arsenal’s official website.

The match itself saw Arsenal cruise to a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United, with striker Eddie Nketiah scoring a hat-trick. The visitors initially frustrated Arsenal for about 25 minutes before Nketiah broke through with a smart finish over the keeper.

Nketiah continued his impressive performance in the second half, scoring two more goals and earning himself a match ball with a wonderful strike from outside of the box. Nicolas Vieira also contributed by winning and converting a late penalty, while Takehiro Tomiyasu rounded off the scoring in stoppage time with an excellent finish following a corner.

The win propelled Arsenal up into second place in the Premier League table, just two points behind rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Their next fixture will be against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup round of 16 at The London Stadium.

As for Sheffield United, they remain without a win this season and currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League table. They will look to turn their fortunes around when they host Wolves in their next league game.

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience for Bukayo Saka as he led Arsenal out as captain for the first time in his Premier League career. His enthusiasm and dedication were evident as he embraced this new responsibility while helping his team secure an impressive victory over Sheffield United.