Bukayo Saka set for new Arsenal role as Mikel Arteta drops West Ham hint

Bukayo Saka could be set for a new role when Arsenaltake on West Ham. Since establishing himself as a regular in Mikel Arteta's side, the 24-year-old winger has almost exclusively featured on the right flank, but he could be utilised in a different position at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

During one particular small-sided drill at the Sobha Realty Training Centre ahead of the Hammers clash, Saka took up a position on the left, with Eberechi Eze on the right. The Hale End graduate latched onto a pass from his new teammate before beating Kepa Arrizabalaga from close range.

With West Ham somewhat short of wingers, Nuno Espirito Santo could lean on his full-backs to provide width against Arsenal. If Aaron Wan-Bissaka drives forward, he could leave space on the left for Saka to exploit.

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The England international hasn't regularly featured on his opposite flank for a while now, although he enjoyed a brief cameo there against Olympiacos earlier this week. When Saka was trying to cement a place in the first team, he played various positions.

Speaking to reporters at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday, Arteta commented on the Englishman's development. Saka was first utilised as a left-back by the Arsenal boss before climbing up the pitch.

Arteta said: "While you were doing your question, I visualised Bukayo playing as a left-back, that's the first thing that came to my mind, against Bournemouth, on my first game, so very far from the pitch, very far in his journey, very far as well personally, and the person that he's becoming, the role he's got in the team, and we had a great journey together and it's been a joy to see that every single day."

On switching Saka to the left wing against Olympiacos, Arteta said: "With Bukayo, we decided in the last few minutes to change sides for two different reasons and because he's on a natural foot on that side, especially against teams that are constantly pushing their full-backs and the space is wide, he's a real threat."

Then, on facing West Ham, the Arsenal boss said: "We want to continue to play and flow and dominate games in the manner that we are doing, and it’s going to be a key fixture. Obviously, we learned in the last two seasons as well, because we had two defeats against them here, and it's something we need to put right, and tomorrow is another opportunity to do that."

On the Gunners' poor record against West Ham at home, having lost the last two encounters, Arteta said: "That's the difficulty of that, and the game that we're going to have to play tomorrow as well, with a new manager, and we know Nuno really well, the way he sets his team.

"So we expect a really tough match, as we're going to demand again three days later, to come back and have the same performance to win the game."

On potentially going top of the Premier League, the Spaniard said: "It's about generating momentum, and there are periods in the season that they are crucial and tomorrow's game is a really important one for us.

"That's why, from the beginning, we need to generate that, in the stadium as well, and go for it, because after we have two weeks' break with the international week."