Bukayo Saka admits he misses three players Mikel Arteta let go - 'I'm not going to lie'
Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka saw a number of fellow Hale End graduates move on in the summer transfer window and he admits that he's already missing some of his old team-mates
by Dan Marsh · The MirrorBukayo Saka is already missing Hale End graduates Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson after watching them leave Arsenal this summer.
Smith Rowe was given the green light to join Fulham in a club-record £27million deal last month and was later joined by Nelson, who moved to Craven Cottage on loan.
Nketiah was also let go by the Gunners and joined Crystal Palace on deadline day as the club sought to recoup funds in the transfer market after splashing the cash on permanent deals for David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino.
Saka knew the outgoing trio better than most after progressing through the academy ranks and into the senior fold alongside them. And while he reckons they will all benefit from their moves, he admits that they have been missed.
"Yeah, I’m not going to lie, I’ve missed them a bit you know," Saka told the Men in Blazers podcast when he was asked about his former team-mates. "Since I came into the first-team they were kind of like my big brothers with the way they welcome me and stuff like that.
"So yeah, it wasn’t easy to see them all go, but at the same time, I’m really happy for them because they’re three top, top players with so much quality and I’m sure they’re going to shine in the Premier League this year."
While Saka was sad to see his fellow academy graduates go, the Gunners did bolster their squad with the deadline day capture of Raheem Sterling from Chelsea.
Join the debate! Do you think Arsenal will regret letting any of their Hale End graduates go? Let us know here.
The 82-cap England star was frozen out by Chelsea in the days leading up to the transfer deadline and was signed on a season-long loan by Arteta, who had earlier insisted that he was unlikely to make a move for the player he worked with at Manchester City.
And Saka, who is no stranger to what Sterling can do from national team duty, believes he will prove to be a shrewd pick-up as the season goes on.
"We’re happy to have him here," Saka said of Sterling. "I know the quality he has, I’ve played with him for England and watched him for years.
"I know Raz really well and hope he can bring his special qualities to the team and help him us win."
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