Bukayo Saka reacts to Martin Odegaard injury as Arsenal to 'miss world class player'

Bukayo Saka has admitted Arsenal will have to step up to the plate and somehow fill in the huge void created by recently injured star Martin Odegaard, after the club captain was crocked on international duty.

Norway's talisman Odegaard will be sidelined for a considerable eight weeks, dealing a heavy blow to Arsenal as he is not only the main source of creativity but also the team's pivotal leader on the field.

Saka, who has occasionally taken on captaincy duties for Arsenal and was elevated to England's leadership group during the Euros, is viewed as a potential future skipper for the team.

Saka emphasises that it's time for Arsenal to deal with Odegaard's absence in the upcoming weeks and continue their pursuit of the top spot without him.

"You know how much I love Martin. He is a world-class player and we are going to miss him. We have to adapt. We have strength and players who can also play in his position. We will find a solution until he is back," Saka said, as report the Mirror.

The Gunners ace also reflected on his incredible journey over the past five years, from scoring his first goal for the to becoming a key player for both club and country. This week marks the fifth anniversary of Saka's debut goal for Arsenal, wearing the No77 shirt in a Europa League match against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Now, as the proud wearer of the No7 jersey for both Arsenal and England, Saka is making waves in the Champions League at just 23 years old.

The young talent is set to be a formidable force when Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, with the Gunners aiming to make a bold statement in their pursuit of the Premier League title. Despite previous disappointments, including finishing runner-up to Pep Guardiola's side twice in the title race and suffering losses in two Euro Championship finals with England, Saka remains undeterred.

Reflecting on his rapid ascent, Saka remarked, "It has flown by. I have grown a lot, in every aspect. It's normal after five years."

His growth is evident; he's been named England's Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons and has become an indispensable asset to Arsenal's attack. With contributions to all but one of Arsenal's six goals this season, Saka is undoubtedly in the prime of his career.

While other England players have returned from the Euros looking fatigued, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka has appeared fresh and in top form. Manchester City's English stars, including Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden, have been gradually reintegrated into the team.

Even Arsenal's Declan Rice has confessed that he hasn't yet reached his peak performance for his club due to fatigue.

In contrast, Saka spent his summer holiday focusing on recharging and preparing to overcome the disappointment of missing out on the title and the Euros. He said: "I just do everything. I live for football. I do everything to be ready for the next game. Whether it's recovery, whether it's food, whether it's studying the game. I want to be the best player I can be."

Saka believes his drive comes from a combination of disappointment and ambition. He said: "I think it's a bit of everything. At the end of the day, it's also hunger. To achieve what I haven't achieved yet."

His determination is evident as he prepares for the title showdown at the Etihad.

He added: "It's both. But it's been like that for two seasons now, so it hurts even more."