Mikel Arteta's £170million gift as Arsenal now have their own Kylian Mbappe

In a world where £100million footballers are becoming the norm, it is ironic that a freebie - unearthed from the streets of Ealing - could prove to be the most valuable diamond of all. It is scary how Bukayo Saka, recently crowned England’s player of the year for a second successive season, is still only 22.

The academy product has been at Arsenal since he was seven. He is a Gooner to the core and, since Mikel Arteta’s arrival, has epitomised everything enjoyable about this Arsenal side.

Direct, energetic and not afraid to take a risk, Saka - despite his stock rising by the day - remains grounded and is someone unlikely to start making shockwaves on the front pages. While Unai Emery handed him his debut in 2018, it is Arteta who has made him a figurehead in North London.

Confidence in youth has been instrumental to the Spaniard’s philosophy since taking over the reins almost five years ago. Few forget that, at 25.2 years old on average, Arsenal had by far the youngest Premier League squad last season and led the charge until the behemoth of Manchester City closed in.

England international Saka eulogised his manager in April just weeks before penning a bumper four-year contract. He told the club’s website: "I’ve learnt a lot and I’m progressing in the right way, so I’m happy. (Arteta) has taught me a lot and I have to thank him for the way I’m developing because a lot of it is because of what he’s doing for me.

“You have to be ready for everything that comes and that’s one thing that I have tried to do: be ready for every moment and try to take it."

Arteta’s patience in developing a local prodigy has resulted in Arsenal boasting a player as valuable as Kylian Mbappe on their books. According to the CIES Football Observatory, an independent research organisation which details football statistics and analytics, Saka would command the same transfer fee as the Paris Saint-Germain sensation, with both players priced at €200million.

Admittedly, Mbappe, odds-on to win a Ballon d’Or once the Lionel Messi dynasty ends, has one year remaining on his contract but that valuation still showcases the pond Saka is now swimming in. Only Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior (both €250million) were ranked higher than the Gunners winger who, as well as Mbappe, also tied with Jude Bellingham and Rodri for third place.

Arsenal may have splashed the cash in recent seasons but it is one of their own leaving the charge to put the club back on the map. Most clubs could only dream about producing an Mbappe-esque player from the youth ranks.