Bukayo Saka wound the clock back to the start of his Arsenal career to name Mesut Özil as the best teammate he’s ever had, overlooking a glut of talented players in favour of a controversial figure in the club’s recent history.
Saka’s first-ever start for Arsenal came alongside Özil back in December 2018. Lining up on the left wing in a much-changed starting XI for a Europa League clash with Qarabağ FK, the then-17-year-old was Player of the Match in a contest decided by the German playmaker’s assist for the game’s only goal.
Almost seven years on, Saka remains a fixture of Arsenal’s first-team setup while Özil has long since left north London.
“High quality player,” was Saka’s take on the spindly German when asked by to name his best teammate this week. “Fun to play with him, fun to watch him.”
Mikel Arteta did not always find it so fun to manage Özil.
