Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno has endorsed the ‘unusual’ Bukayo Saka to become a world-class footballer in the near future.
The English international has been one of the club’s star players this season despite being just 19 years old, scoring five goals and adding two assists in 25 Premier League appearances.
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Leno believes that Saka has quality beyond her years
“His performances were incredible,” Leno said before the Gunners’ crucial second leg in Slavia Prague on Thursday. “He is a first-rate player and has a high-level mentality. It is very unusual for a young player like him, because he feels older than he really is. He almost leads the team and it’s a very good sign.
“I’m pretty sure he will become a world-class player and we are very happy to have him because I think this season I don’t know if he is the best player on our team, but probably one of the best.”
Leno said he was happy at Arsenal but did not rule out an exit to cast new doubts on his future.
The German, who will be out of contract in the summer of 2023, added: “I know I still have two years left on my contract and I also have 29. For a goalkeeper this is not too old, I still have a few years left.
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Saka has become indispensable for Arsenal this season
“I am very happy at the club. I do not know what will come in the future, but I am open to everything. For a new adventure or to stay at Arsenal, but as I said at the moment, I don’t think about my future ”.
Mikel Arteta’s men travel to the Czech Republic with work to do after drawing 1-1 at the Emirates last week.
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On the prospect of not having European football for the first time since the 1995-96 season, Leno said: “When you think about the future without Arsenal in a European competition, it doesn’t feel good. Our job is to make sure it doesn’t come true because Arsenal belongs to Europe and that is our goal.
“Slavia Prague have beaten good teams in the competition, I think we dominate them in our home game, but you can also see that they are very dangerous in counterattacks, set pieces, so we know what to expect.
“It will be a very tough match, especially away from home, but we also know that it is a dangerous result for us and for them as well.
“Once we score a goal, they are under great pressure and that should be our goal: to score the first goal and with a second goal, we can almost finish the game because then they need to score three goals.”
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