Why it was always Arsenal for ‘part-time barista’ Saka

The Football Interview is a new series in which the biggest names in sport and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for bold and in-depth conversations about the nation’s favourite sport.

We’ll talk about defining moments, career highs, and personal reflections, as well as motivation and mindset. The Football Interview brings you the person behind the player.

At the age of seven, Bukayo Saka joined Arsenal’s academy.

Now 24, he is a first-team mainstay – scoring 76 goals in 277 appearances – and firm favourite among the Emirates faithful.

He also assisted England in their second consecutive European Championship titles as a member of the Arsenal team that reached the Europa League final in 2019 and the FA Cup final in 2020.

Saka could add another highlight to his reel this season, with Arsenal top of the Premier League as they chase a first league title since 2004.

The England winger will likely sign a new contract, according to the club.

Speaking on Friday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “I am very aware that he wants to continue with us. It’s a very strong and healthy relationship, in my opinion.

” The journey that he has had at the club, and what he has become, is something we want to maintain. He must leave a legacy at this club, in my opinion, and he must do that.

Bukayo Saka: Football is happiness to me, so from the moment I realised that it existed, it was all I ever wanted to do.

Kelly, was there ever a chance it could be another thing?

Bukayo: Not in my head. Perhaps in my parents’ eyes, which is obviously reasonable, they tried to make sure I had a plan B, but you’re aware that it was just football.

Kelly: What is your first memory of playing the game?

Bukayo with my brother and my father in my backyard. It was 2 v 1, actually. They are both older than me, and I disagreed with them. I would never lose. It’s not something I’d like to hear. I would cry, I would do anything, and that started young.

Kelly, when are we talking?

Bukayo: We’re talking maybe four or five years old.

Kelly, do you recall the first team you played for?

Bukayo: Greenford Celtic. Everything is in my memory, from the game to the kit. The kit was green stripes with white stripes – it had like a Celtic logo. When we used to play in a nearby park, our boots would completely muddie and be slapped against the trees. Proper football. I have everything in mind. It was a really important chapter of my life and I enjoyed it.

Kelly, what year did you join the team and when?

Bukayo: I would have been maybe six.

Kelly, when did you decide, “OK, I’m quite good at this,” you said?

Bukayo: You can be humble and also believe that you’re good as well. Both can be together, and I believe there is nothing wrong with both. And I think I had that from young, but I just never thought about it. I was just having fun and getting good at it. So it made it even more fun.

Kelly, what position did you hold at the time?

Bukayo: I remember my father saying to me, “You got a scout card, scouts would have come to watch you at a local team,” and that they would have set up a trial for me. So I remember first coming into Hale End – my first trial. I didn’t experience any fear at all. I was just like, ‘ I’m just going to play football, just enjoy it ‘ and I played so good. I believe the B team tested me. I played so good they put me in the A team, and from there signed and I’ve been at Arsenal ever since.

Was Arsenal always the best option for you, Kelly?

Bukayo: Yeah. Your parents were more in charge of your decisions at that point in my career. You’re just a kid, you don’t really, do you know what I’m saying? I said to my father, “Arsenal is the club I want you at,” and he said, “OK, let’s go.”

Kelly: Why did he want you to come here? What was the Arsenal story?

Bukayo: He believed in Arsenal, believed in the pathway, and it was visible. At the time, you could see Arsene Wenger and other players talk about how much he loved the academy, how much he wanted to use it, and how elite Arsenal are in addition to their football. So all of that was just perfect for him and he just wanted me to be here.

Kelly, how special is playing for Arsenal as a fan?

Bukayo: It’s just a dream come true. Naturally, growing up, attending Arsenal’s stadium, and watching them play in so many different games, have led to their current status, with all the spectators watching you and the belongings that come with it. Family that used to talk about Arsenal… and now it’s you. I’m just enjoying every second of it because of the many ways in which it is so beautiful.

Kelly: So did you used to come and watch Arsenal as a kid?

Bukayo: Yes, of course.

Kelly: And I bet now you must have so many ticket requests for all the games?

Ask the boys, Bukayo!

Kelly: Can you remember a time, even going through the academy, where you thought, ‘ I’m going to make it to the first team’?

Bukayo: I can recall one time when our team was outstanding in a game we just played in the changing room. We just smashed the team. The coach arrived, and I believe it to be Greg Lincoln, who said, “Listen, boys, look around, but only one of you is going to make it,” or “maybe even two.” And I just remember that day just thinking, ‘ oh my God, it needs to be me. I must be in it’s place.

Kelly: And I guess that’s what a lot of young boys and girls don’t realise, isn’t it? Such a small percentage of people actually make it.

Bukayo: Yeah. Some coaches won’t tell all the boys because some boys may find it frightful because of it. It might make them a bit less confident. However, it only made it crystal clear to me that this is not going to be forever perfect and roses. You have to work for this and, for me, it helped me a lot.

Kelly, which former teammate or coach do you think has had the biggest influence on your career?

Bukayo: My name is Bukayo Moses Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka.

Kelly, that’s due to your roots in Nigeria, isn’t that? Are you proud of those?

Bukayo, those are very impressive. Both my parents grew up in Nigeria, so a lot of their values are instilled in me.

Kelly, please describe a typical day for your youth. Who was at home?

Bukayo: I just recall that when I first woke up, we had breakfast, obviously. My mum would normally have gone to work, my dad was always around. And if he had to leave for work, my brother and I would be the only ones who would always leave us breakfast. Hot cross bun, sausage, like a sausage cut up. Frankfurter and some ketchup, please. That was my breakfast. You place the hot cross bun in the hot cross bun, cut the sausage up, add the ketchup, and finally close the bun. Unreal, unreal. I’m not sure who was the author, but credit goes to my dad and mother.

Kelly: You don’t still have that now, do you?

Bukayo: No, not anymore. It helped me growing up though.

Kelly, how did you feel while you were a student?

Bukayo: I was quite bright at school. I thought I could pick up the details quickly. I was good at understanding it, all the different subjects that they were explaining and teaching. So, yes, I would say I learned well.

Kelly: And your GCSEs, you’ve said before what you got, but just remind me what your grades were?

Kelly: Who’s the first person you speak to after a game?

Bukayo: Depends on my mood. I’m not really a big phone-call person. I’d text my brother frequently. I get a lot of texts, especially if you win or you score… a lot of people congratulate you, which is nice.

Kelly, what would a typical day off look like for you?

Bukayo: Ideal day off – wake up in the morning, go for a walk by myself.

Kelly, do you enjoy having a quiet time?

Bukayo: Yeah. I’ve recently enjoyed going for walks with nature, and more than ever, I just unwind. I think it’s so peaceful, it’s nice. I like to go to restaurants and other similar things, so I come back, have some breakfast, and then probably travel to London and just have some food with my closest friends. If I have even more energy, maybe some shopping, and, yeah, just enjoying that side of things if it’s a full day off.

What interests you most, Kelly?

Bukayo: Football. I enjoy making coffee in recent years. I’m into my coffee era, yeah. I believe I’m currently working as a part-time barista. I’m trying to learn how to do the art. That is challenging. It’s so hard but I’m getting there, I’m getting better. I haven’t yet been able to draw anything. I’m going to take lessons soon.

Kelly, how proud are you of your career so far today?

Bukayo: I think I’d say where I am now. You know the ups and downs, challenges, setbacks, or other things I’ve experienced that made me grow up in this place, where I’m now, where I’m going strong, still focused, motivated, and happy. I think it’s probably something that gets overlooked and something I can definitely be proud of. You now realize that you can’t always be completely invested in football, especially as I get older. You need to have a good balance and give your mind some time to switch off as well and enjoy the other aspects of life too.

Kelly, when did you realize that?

Bukayo: I think it was last season when I got injured. Before that, I was almost on autopilot: game after game, recovery, game. And I didn’t really take in anything else. However, it’s obvious that you can’t play football or do what you love when you get injured. So I was literally in the brace, on the crutches, for almost a month. Additionally, you must engage in other forms of entertainment. So it just opened up that part of my brain to different sides of things. And since then, I believe there has been a little bit more to life than football. It’s not just football, but at the same time, football is my life. So it’s just trying to find a balance because I still have the same commitment and drive, but it’s also trying to find that little break while also trying to switch off.

Kelly: If you could only achieve one more thing in your life, what would it be?

Bukayo: England and Arsenal have both won awards. It’s definitely something I want to achieve in my career.

Kelly, how would you characterize the Bukayo Saka seated next to me?

Bukayo: I think I explained a bit earlier the natural evolution. What I was like as a player and person, what I was expected to do, and how I lived my life then are all very different. Naturally, as you go from there to there, you learn different things, you mature, you grow, stuff like that. That’s probably the biggest difference, then, yes.

Kelly: You still like having fun though, don’t you? Because I am aware that you are also a joker in the dressing room.