Mikel Arteta has expressed his delight at seeing Arsenal star Bukayo Saka draw inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary career.
Saka, one of Arsenal’s brightest talents, has long admired Ronaldo, who boasts five Ballon d’Or titles and an extraordinary career spanning more than two decades.
While Saka was initially captivated by Ronaldo’s immense talent on the field, he has also been inspired by the Portuguese icon’s longevity and dedication, which have kept him performing at the highest level even into his late 30s.
Ronaldo’s remarkable career tally of over 900 goals is particularly impressive given his relatively modest scoring record early in his career.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward did not hit double digits in a season until his fourth campaign at Old Trafford.
Similarly, Bukayo Saka experienced a breakthrough in his fourth senior season, achieving double figures for the first time.
The 23-year-old Arsenal winger scored 20 goals last season, marking a significant milestone in his development.
This term, Saka has already contributed five goals and 10 assists in just 12 Premier League appearances, underlining his growing influence on the pitch.
“To look is always good,” said Arteta.
“And probably, the way Cristiano started his career and when he joined Manchester United, nobody probably expected in the first few seasons [he would] be able to do that.
“But again, it was about his mentality, his work ethic, how he developed his skill, his chemistry with his team and to play in a team that has the capacity as well to be dominant.
“That is very, very important. I think B has got that context and if he is aiming for that, I think it is a positive thing.”
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