Nigel Winterburn has challenged Bukayo Saka to improve his defending in 1v1 situations if he is to nail down the left-back role permanently.
. The 18-year-old, who is naturally a winger, was asked to play in defence due to the injuries sustained Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac, but has made the position his own.
Saka has been one of the Gunners’ most creative outlets on the pitch, registering eight assists in all competitions this season. Winterburn, who made 440 appearances at full-back for Arsenal, admitted Saka can get better defensively if he focuses on one key area of his game.
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He told the Chronicles of a Gooner podcast: ‘What he should be working on now is showing the opposition players, particularly when it’s 1v1, showing them where he wants them to go or where Arteta wants the team to be pushed into.
‘With the pace that he’s got he can change his position to dictate to players where he actually wants them to go, rather than being dictated against when you’re defending.
‘There’s a lot of positives we’re seeing, there’s still a lot of developments to come but he’s done a fantastic job, he’s just been pushed into that position and he’s had to get on with it.
‘He’s been a sensation and someone that, if he was to play in that position regularly, will get better and better, and that is an exciting thought.’
