‘I’m not going to lie’ – Bukayo Saka admits he ‘misses’ three former Arsenal players

Bukayo Saka admits helium ‘misses’ erstwhile Arsenal team-mates Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson but has backed them to ‘shine’ successful the Premier League this season.

Saka saw his chap Hale End academy graduates permission Arsenal implicit the summer, with Smith Rowe and Nelson joining Fulham and Nketiah moving to Crystal Palace.

While it ‘wasn’t casual to spot them go’, Saka believes they person the prime to thrive successful the Premier League astatine 2 of Arsenal’s London rivals.

Smith Rowe joined Fulham successful a club-record woody worthy £27m having made 80 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, the nine helium joined astatine the property of 10.

Nelson, who featured successful 24 games for Arsenal past season, followed Smith Rowe to Craven Cottage connected a season-long indebtedness deal.

Nketiah, meanwhile, completed a £30m determination to Crystal Palace connected transportation deadline day aft spending astir a decennary astatine Arsenal and scoring 38 goals for the club.

Asked however it felt to spot his erstwhile Hale End team-mates permission Arsenal, Saka said connected the Men successful Blazers podcast: ‘Yeah, I’m not going to lie, I’ve missed them a spot you know. 

‘Since I came into the first-team they were benignant of similar my large brothers with the mode they invited maine and worldly similar that. 

‘So yeah, it wasn’t casual to spot them each go, but astatine the aforesaid time, I’m truly blessed for them due to the fact that they’re 3 top, apical players with truthful overmuch prime and I’m definite they’re going to radiance successful the Premier League this year.’

While Saka was bittersweet to spot respective adjacent friends permission Arsenal implicit the summer, helium was buoyed by the arrival of Chelsea and England winger Raheem Sterling.

Saka buoyed by Sterling signing

Sterling joined the Gunners connected a season-long indebtedness woody aft being exiled by Chelsea brag Enzo Maresca and told to permission Stamford Bridge.

‘We’re blessed to person him here,’ Saka said. ‘I cognize the prime helium has, I’ve played with him for England and watched him for years.

‘I cognize Raz truly good and anticipation helium tin bring his peculiar qualities to the squad and assistance him america win.’

Arsenal, who person finished 2nd successful the Premier League for the past 2 seasons, person made a beardown commencement to the 2024-25 campaign, taking 10 points from 4 games.

Mikel Arteta’s broadside statesman their Champions League run connected Thursday nighttime against Atalanta earlier facing Premier League champions Manchester City astatine the weekend.

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