Bukayo Saka message to Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman speaks volumes amid Arsenal star's admission

Bukayo Saka has admitted that despite taking a similar path, he does not necessarily see himself as a role model to the younger players in the Arsenal squad. Saka has grown into the profile of the Gunners’ most important player in recent seasons, but lacks a strong view on whether he should be looked up to.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Saka was honest about whether the likes of Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, or Max Dowman see him as a role model. He cites that this comes more secondary, and if they do look up to him, this is “perfect,” but if not, he has no complaints.

“When you start, that’s not really what you think about,” he said. “I’m just here to play football, enjoy it and try and be the best player I can be, try to help my team win, and just be myself at the same time. It doesn’t change my values.

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“If people look up to me, then perfect. If they don’t, then it’s OK. Just staying true to myself is the most important. If the young players want to follow me, they can follow me. I’m here to help them, to support them, and they know that.”

There is little doubt Saka is indeed an inspirational figure to young players across the country, let alone within the Arsenal academy. Having come through significant adversity in his younger years on the biggest of stages, whether he wants to be or not, there is an admiration for the 24-year-old that runs deep in English football.

Speaking in January of 2025, Lewis-Skelly said that Saka had indeed helped him while he was making his breakthrough last season. He clearly disagrees with the idea that Saka is not a role model, stating as much in his response to a question about his Gunners teammate.

"It's felt really good seeing the likes of Bukayo that have helped me come through; it's been quite a smooth transition," Lewis-Skelly told GOAL. "The importance of people like that who have come before me has helped me a lot.

“That's really helped me out. They're definitely role models."

Ethan Nwaneri, speaking last June at the under-21 championships, was perhaps more in line with Saka’s way of thinking about how he is perceived. Referencing how he is indeed someone to learn from, but how their relationship is on a much more grounded level than teacher and student.

“Bukayo is a great person and he's an even better player,” Nwaneri said. “Honestly, there's so much I can learn. Our relationship is more like a friendship and more jokey.

“We don't really have a lot of deep conversations because I think with Bukayo, he's a player that you just need to watch to learn from and take from his game. I think he's helped me so much in that respect.”