Rio Ferdinand has urged Mikel Arteta to rebuild his Arsenal team around the likes of Bukayo Saka and Joe Willock.
Saka has just ignored interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool to sign a new long-term deal at Arsenal.
The teenager has been one of the bright lights of the Arsenal team this season after he broke into the first team.
Arteta has struggled with the performances and attitudes of several Arsenal players this season, however, Saka has been very reliable with the young Englishman putting in performances beyond his tender age.
After he signed his new deal, Ferdinand was impressed and claimed that the club meant so much to the winger and Willock, and he advised Arteta to rebuild his side around them.
He told BT Sport, as quoted by Mail Sports: ‘I think Arsenal need people with the right attitude, right characters and people that want to be at the club.
‘Looking at his statement (Saka), he buys into the philosophy, and he wants to move forward with the club. I would build the club around him, around players like (Joe) Willock. The badge means something to these boys. They need to move forward together.’
Saka and Willock are two of the several youngsters that have been impressing at Arsenal this season.
Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Martinelli have also been putting in fine performances when they have played for the Gunners.
Am yet to see enough from Willock, I hope he prove me wrong, am not his fan, not convinced of his potential, I rate him the least of all our young stars
Willoc, Nelson they can be sold.
Adajim sometimes talents alone can’t cut it you have to workhard, what I like about wilcok is what he lacks in real talents he makes up for it with good hardwork.
I agree that the jury is still out on Willock. To early to give him up though. I feel that Martinelli is another one to build the team around though.
I guess Rio doesnt have the spare
time to do any independent research
on Arsenals current first team. If he
had the following names would be
the real building blocks for Arsenals
future revival.
Tierney
Saka
Saliba
Martinelli
Pepe
Niektah
Leno
ESR
Mavro (if he can stay healthy)
Balogun
Tyreece John Jules
Willock has had a few decent
performances for the first team but
I just dont rate him as high as others.
Not all home grown as Saka and Willock but I more than take your point. It’s a great list
What is this dude smoking? How dare he say build the team around Willock when the greatest play maker on earth ever to walk onto a football ground since the inception of the game is on our roles and I would like to reward him with a wage hike and 3 years extension for that wonder goal against Newcastle this season. Has Rio lost his memory.Cannot he remember that Ozil has 19 assists some 5 years back? We need to build on that and build the team around him.You cannot expect a player of that class to play with an aging Auba, very young Pepe, Saka, Martenelli,Nelson, etc. He needs world class players around him! Get the Sanes, Manes, Salahs and see how he bangs goals and assists after assist.