V UKRAINE WINNER
Saka: Arsenal have a new mentality thanks to Oleks
BUKAYO SAKA reckons Pep Guardiola might have helped turn Arsenal into title winners.
The Manchester City manager sold Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to the Gunners last summer – and his defending champions now face a fight to retain the crown after falling eight points behind Mikel Arteta’s side.
Saka will come up against his Emirates team-mate Zinchenko when England face Ukraine this evening at Wembley in a Euros qualifier.
And the brilliant 21-year-old Three Lions winger said: “Zinchenko has brought quality – but he’s brought so much more.
“You can see how he plays and how he controls the game – he’s an outstanding player. He has great leadership qualities, so he’s really helping us on all fronts.
“Zinchenko and Jesus have brought a winning mentality to us as players – they have been there and won the league.
“In difficult moments they know how it feels and can encourage us, because we have a lot of young players. They help us with the mental side of things.”
The Gunners swooped on the Etihad last July, spending £75million to seal deals for Zinchenko and Brazil striker Jesus after they had helped City win their fourth title in five years.
Zinchenko’s achievements are even more admirable, bearing in mind that his homeland was plunged into war 13 months ago when the Russians invaded.
The full-back’s powerful emotions about the war spilled over in public at times last season.
Saka added: “No one can ever understand what Oleks is going through.
“He’s a man of incredible mental strength. To be able to get his mind on the game and to perform so well for Arsenal and his country is a big credit to him.
“He’s got a bit of fire about him and uses it in ways that help him.
“I haven’t had any conversations with him about the war, but if he wants to speak about it, I’m here to listen and to help him in any way I can.
“Oleks is a character. He’s my team-mate – but not on Sunday.”
Saka showed his own qualities as England opened their qualifying campaign by beating defending European champions Italy 2-1 in Naples on Thursday.
He gave Roberto Mancini’s team a torrid examination in the first half and then took on a more defensive role as the home team came storming back. It was the Three Lions’ first victory over the Azzurri on Italian soil for 62 years.
Saka, who missed a penalty when England lost to Italy in the European Championship final shoot-out two years ago, added: “We showed that we have that character and fight to win the game in different ways.
“We showed that we can win by playing brilliant, attacking football like we did in the first half, and then in the second half we showed we can win by digging deep.
“Getting back to winning ways is important. I’m happy to be back in an England shirt.”