Exciting Arsenal 17-year-old could become a serious treat for Henrikh Mkhitaryan when he forces himself into starting spot

Arsenal’s teenage sensation Bukayo Saka is expected to start in the FA Cup third round tie against Blackpool. If the 17-year-old starts, he could well stake a serious claim for a regular place in Unai Emery’s starting XI, especially considering the circumstances at the club. He made his first appearance for the Gunners as a substitute in the Europa League game against FC Vorskla, coming on for Aaron Ramsey, before making his first ever start for the club in the same competition just two weeks later against FK Qarabag. Soon he became the youngest European goalscorer in the club’s history with a number of efforts that had the keeper scrambling. Saka can play on either wing, but prefers to cut in from the right flank. Some of the names that currently start ahead of him at the Emirates are Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alex Iwobi and Aaron Ramsey; if he is to compete with these three for a starting place, it could come sooner than he expects. Mkhitaryan has been extremely poor this season. The Armenian international has scored just four goals in the current campaign, with two of them coming in the same game. The same can be said of Iwobi, who’s final ball is particularly woeful.

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