ARSENAL star Bukayo Saka discussed his love for football from a young age as he opened up about his childhood.
The Gunners forward, 21, showed off an unseen side of his personality as he posed for a series of photos whist wearing various outfits for a shoot.
The images were an exclusive set taken by France Football, before L’Equipe conducted an interview about his early years.
Talking about what football means to him, he said: “Football? It’s been in my life since I was a kid. As soon as I realised this game existed, I loved it. And I still love it.
“In front of my house, there was a closed neighbourhood, something that formed a circle with the other dwellings. In the middle, there was just a green field. Not really a football field, but we transformed it like that.
“Everyone came to play there. After school, we met there, the children of the neighbourhood, to play until our parents called us to have dinner and go to the shower.
“Then to bed. The next day, school… And we did it again!”
Saka has already racked up 181 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 39 goals and assisting a further 41.
He won the FA Cup in 2020 and came close to the Premier League title last season before Mikel Arteta’s men fell away as Manchester City overhauled them.
Saka has also earned 28 England caps and is now one of Gareth Southgate’s most trusted lieutenants.
Of his 11 international goals, seven of them have come since the start of 2022.
And he is expected to start the Euros next summer.
He continued his impressive form in Arsenal’s Premier League opener at the weekend as he scored in a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
Yet despite his huge success, Saka remains as grounded as ever.
He added: “I don’t want to change my values for anyone or for anything. I firmly believe in what I say and do.
“I am not perfect, of course, and I still have a lot to learn, maturity to acquire, but it is essential to remain the boy that I am.”
