With Arsenal in pole position to seal a first Premier League title and in the Champions League final, Bukayo Saka has come alive at just the right time as far as the Gunners are concerned.
This has not been the Hale Ender's best campaign on a personal level but with a goal and an assist against Fulham, followed by the crucial strike against Atletico Madrid that sent them to Budapest, he is now back in form.
Bukayo-Saka-Arsenal-Champions-League
It was a magical moment when Saka found the net against Atleti. He was in the starting XI for Mikel Arteta's first game in charge back in December 2019 and he has remained through thick and thin. If he does lift one or two major honours before the season is done, it will be a fine reward for all of his hard work.
That said, Saka's wide position has been one of the biggest problems for Arsenal this season. Noni Madueke has just two league goals while Gabriel Martinelli has just one. Improvements are required.
How Arsenal can strengthen out wide
Considering the tricky patches of form that the vast majority of Arsenal's wingers have experienced this summer, Saka and Leandro Trossard's return to form in recent weeks could not have been more timely.
That said, on the left flank, they do need to spend money. Before finding the net against West Ham, Trossard had not scored in his last 25 games. It wasn't good enough.
As a result, it is no surprise to see links to the likes of PSG's Bradley Barcola and Newcastle's Anthony Gordon emerge. That said, Bayern Munich would appear to be leading the race for the latter.
While signing an elite left winger such as Barcola is a necessity, the Gunners are also busy future proofing the team. That's where Leicester City's Jeremie Monga comes into the equation.
According to trusted source, Hand of Arsenal, Arsenal have 'presented a compelling offer' to the player's camp. Talks are ongoing and a big factor in whether the player joins is centring around what his pathway to the first-team could look like.
HOA further reveals that if Monga agrees to join, Arsenal would still need to agree a compensation fee with Leicester.
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That's because the forward is still only 16 years old and is yet to sign a professional contract with the Foxes. The Midlands outfit were relegated to League One at the end of the Championship season, leading to plenty of interest in Monga's services.
Why Monga could be Arsenal's new Saka
In 2018, Unai Emery handed a 17-year-old Saka his Arsenal debut. There is not much to thank the Spanish manager but we must hand him credit for throwing the Arsenal star into the firing line.
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Since then, he has become one of the finest players in English football. Monga could well follow in his footsteps.
As it happens, the teenager is the third youngest player in Premier League history. The two players above him are Arsenal players; Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.
Youngest players in Premier League history
Player
1) Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
2) Max Dowman (Arsenal)
3) Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
4) Harvey Elliot (Fulham)
5) Matt Briggs (Fulham)
6) Izzy Brown (West Brom)
7) Aaron Lennon (Leeds)
8) Jose Baxter (Everton)
9) Joel Drakes-Thomas (Palace)
10) Gary McSheffrey (Coventry)
So, he's already in fine company and it's evidence that he is one of the biggest talents in the country right now, even if Leicester were relegated from the second tier.
Monga's numbers are not the greatest at surface level. He scored just once and registered two assists this season but lest we forget this young boy is still only 16. The very fact he has even played 37 times at senior level aready is remarkable.
So, what does he offer? Well, hailed as "England’s Ousmane Dembele" by Como scout Ben Mattinson, he notes that Monga is "pacy and an excellent dribbler" who is a "deadly finisher and both-footed ball striker."
That sounds an awful lot like Saka, doesn't it? While Arsenal's number 7 may have lost a yard of pace since his hamstring injury last season, he is a brilliant dribbler, perhaps one of the finest in close spaces in the Premier League. He's also worked hard on his ball striking off both feet and can be lethal on his weaker right foot at a goalkeeper's near post.
jeremy monga
Like Saka, Monga has made his breakthrough as a really young winger in English football and while he may not be at an elite standard just yet, there is every reason to believe he is a future England player.
To think that Arsenal could have Saka, Monga, Nwaneri and Dowman all in their squad next season is seriously exciting.
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