Mikel Arteta is a former Barcelona youth player.
Mikel Arteta is a former Barcelona youth player.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has boldly likened forward Bukayo Saka and midfielder Martin Odegaard's connection to Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets' relationship at Barcelona.
Both Saka and Odegaard have established themselves as indispensable starters for Arteta's outfit since the start of the 2021-22 term. While the former has grown as a right-sided winger, the Norwegian has emerged as his club's leader.
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Ahead of Arsenal's Premier League home contest against Manchester United on Wednesday (December 4), Arteta was asked to opine on Saka and Odegaard's chemistry. He replied (h/t Metro):
"I've seen centre-backs, I've seen midfielders between them having... I always think about Barcelona with Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta – it was unbelievable. They didn't even need to look at themselves."
Arteta, who spent time at Barcelona's youth ranks as a player, added:
"Our two centre-backs – naturally there is a chemistry there that is unbelievable. So try to develop those more and more, because there is something there that is very difficult to put a number to it. But it's close in a natural way and the more relationships you have make the team the better."
Under the helm of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets formed a partnership unlike any other at Barcelona. The trio were almost telepathic in the centre of the midfield and guided Barcelona to many trophies.
Arsenal boss opines on Bukayo Saka's growth
Shedding light on Bukayo Saka's role at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta remarked:
"I was convinced that long-term, medium-term [left back] wasn't his position and the team needed another kind of threat, creativity and that he could provide those moments. We moved him, first to the left and then to the right, and we started to see naturally it was the position in which he felt more comfortable."
Arteta, who deployed Saka as a left-back in his first season, added:
"He [now] has a massive role in the team. He is deciding matches for us. He has earned the right to be that way but at the same time, he has stayed so humble, close and charming to everybody."
Saka, 23, has scored seven goals and provided 11 assists in 18 games across competitions for the north London outfit in the ongoing 2024-25 campaign.
So far, the 43-cap England international has made 244 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal. The left-footed wide operator has found the back of the net 65 times and laid out 61 assists in 216 total starts for his boyhood club.