Revealed: How Arsenal star Bukayo Saka responds to Premier League & Champions League rivals trying to ‘smash’ him

The 22-year-old England international has become one of the most feared forwards in world football, with his dancing feet allowing him to bamboozle opponents. Saka has also added end product to his game, with a career-high 16 goals recorded across all competitions this season.

Saka’s threat has become that obvious that rivals will look to shut him down by any means possible – even if that means bending the rules a little. The Gunners talisman has told beIN Sports of becoming a target: “When I go on the pitch I’m there to have fun and to enjoy. I would say I learned a lot over the last few seasons, when I started to get more and more tackles and defenders have started to enjoy more and more kicking me, I spoke to a few defenders and now I understand it. So for me, when I see a defender trying to smash me, as long as he doesn’t get me, I’m laughing or I’m smiling because I take it as a compliment.

“I don’t think a defender would be calling for help or a defender would want to smash me if he didn’t see me as a threat. So, for me, if he tries to smash me and I get away with it, I just laugh and just get on with the game, because I guess it’s part of it. I’m not going to say names because I feel like those conversations should stay between me and them, but I’ve had a few conversations with opposition, even sometimes the players here, when I ask, ‘why are you guys like this? Why do you just want to smash players?’ They just explain to me so I understand and once I understand it’s easy for me to to get on with it more. As long as no one tackles me really, really badly [it’s okay] because obviously I don’t want to be injured or I don’t want to be playing through pain, I don’t think anyone wants that.”

While Saka is looking to make a difference in the final third for club and country, he appreciates that it is the duty of a defender to try and snuff him out. He added on the need to keep his cool when being provoked: “Obviously, the defender is only trying to do his job and protect his goal, and I’m only trying to do my job and get towards his goal. So we’re all just trying to do our best for the team. I just try and keep my temper, because I know when I do lose my head, I don’t play well. I hope I haven’t given a secret to the opposition there.”

Arsenal, who trail their Champions League last-16 encounter with Porto 1-0 heading into a return leg at Emirates Stadium on March 12, will be back in Premier League action next Monday when taking in a trip to Sheffield United – with Mikel Arteta’s side still very much in the domestic title hunt.