What defines a legend? A modern-great? In Arsenal terms, it’s Thierry Henry, the club’s record goalscorer.
It’s also Dennis Bergkamp. It’s Tony Adams. All three icons are cast in bronze outside the Emirates Stadium.
It’s also Arsene Wenger. While his stint in north London ended without many trophies, he is the most successful Gunners manager in the modern era. He was the one who drove the move from Highbury to the Emirates. He was the one who achieved a double, the one who reached a Champions League final.
He is also the only manager to have a golden Premier League trophy. No club in history since the old English First Division was rebranded have achieved an unbeaten season. Few have brought as much to the game as Mr Wenger.
Current boss Mikel Arteta has a great deal to achieve before he can be recognised in the same light but a major trophy come the end of 2025/26 would undoubtedly help.
It’s safe to say Bukayo Saka is certainly also heading down the legendary route.
Where Bukayo Saka ranks among Arsenal players in the Emirates era
The date was 29th November 2018. The setting: a freezing cold stadium in Ukraine. The opposition were Vorskla Poltava. What was the significance? Well, Saka made his first-team debut for the Gunners.
Brought into the fray by Unai Emery, he appeared from the bench in a 3-0 win aged 17 years, two months and 24 hours.
Since then, it’s safe to say the winger hasn’t looked back. Initially making his first forays at senior level as a left-back, even appearing there during Arteta’s first match in charge, he is now one of the best wingers in the world.
Only a few weeks ago, he cemented himself as one of the finest players of the Emirates era by registering his 100th goal involvement in his 200th Premier League clash, finding the net from the penalty spot against West Ham last time out.
The poster boy for this Arsenal team and indeed the Arteta project, journalist Charles Watts claimed he was “the best right winger in the world” back in 2023 and while Mo Salah may have overtaken him in that regard, certainly in the Premier League, he’s still right up there.
As far as Emirates Stadium icons go, he sits very close to the top of the tree. Other candidates include current teammates William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. Declan Rice is up there too.
Yet, does he come close to eclipsing the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie? Considering the way in which the pair left, you’d have to say yes at this current moment in time.
Does he eclipse Mesut Ozil? The German is one of the finest playmakers we’ve ever seen over the last two decades but even his time in the English capital ended in tears.
Alexis Sanchez left in strange circumstances as well but Saka still has some way to go before he eclipses the Chilean’s numbers. He found the net on 80 occasions in 166 matches, most notably scoring 30 times in the 2016/17 campaign. Saka’s best season in front of goal stands at 18 so there is room for improvement there.
The club’s number 7 is no doubt already a club icon but who’s next on the conveyor belt of talent?
Arsenal star could become an all-timer like Saka
Saka is Hale End. He has served as the inspiration for a whole number of footballers trying to make the jump from academy to first-team life.
His influence has already proven to be a beacon for the likes of Max Dowman and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Lewis-Skelly earned his England debut last term and Dowman is currently the talk of the town having become the second-youngest player in Premier League history when he made his top-flight debut at the age of 15 a couple of months ago.
1. Ethan Nwaneri
15 years, 5 months
2. Max Dowman
15 years, 7 months
3. Jeremy Monga
15 years, 8 months
4. Harvey Elliott
16 years, 1 month
5. Matthew Briggs
16 years, 2 months
Dowman is the shiny new toy and so it’s easy to forget about fellow Hale Ender Ethan Nwaneri.
Now 18, Nwaneri is the only player to make his Premier League bow at a younger age than Dowman and since then, he’s gone from strength to strength.
While he is yet to find the net in 2025/26, largely now playing as an attacking midfielder, he showcased that he was a true game-changer in 2024/25.
Last campaign, the teenager predominantly played on the right flank when Saka was out injured and he made a remarkable impact. In total, the youngster bagged nine goals in 37 matches and created two assists. One of those included a stunner in the rout over Manchester City.
He earned rave reviews in the process. After starring in the Champions League, TNT Sport pundit Joe Cole stated that Nwaneri was “the most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe.” Fine praise indeed.
Cole is certainly a huge fan of the teenager, remarking at another point in the season that he was like the great Lionel Messi.
“These touches he produces in and around the box, I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi,” the former Chelsea star said. “I don’t want to put any more pressure on the kid’s shoulders, I’m sure he’ll deal with it. He plays with such confidence and he’s a beautiful player.”
After such an impressive season, it’s easy to forget just how young this kid is. Dowman is getting all of the hype now but let’s shine a light on Nwaneri again.
He may have only played 145 minutes in the Premier League this term but he is already streets ahead of his peers in the same age group. Some might argue he’s also ahead of Saka at the same age.
During the England international’s first full campaign a senior player he only beat the goalkeeper on four occasions. Nwaneri had five more.
So, there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about the teenager, particularly as in the words of Arsenal content creator Leo Da Silva, he has the potential to be “an all-time like Saka.”
