Beyond his technical ability, Saka has emerged as a key leader in the dressing room. His team-mates' respect is so high that Arteta often grants him the captain's armband ahead of other senior figures like Declan Rice and Gabriel when regular skipper Martin Odegaard is unavailable. Arteta feels fortunate to have a player who reflects the club's core values so consistently.
“I feel extremely lucky to find somebody at the club that you can lean into at any level, knowing that he's going to respond," Arteta said. "Knowing that his heart is in the right place, knowing that everything that he does comes beyond certain values, certain education, certain principles. It's been a joy. On the human level, I think we know him. And on the football level, what he has provided to this club and what he did the other night is just remarkable.”