Arsenal: Study names Bukayo Saka as Europe’s best young player

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is Europe’s best young footballer, according to a leading study.

The CIES Football Observatory has produced a ranking of the Under-21 outfield stars destined to dominate the game for years to come.

Top of the pile in this week’s release is Saka, 20, who has been dubbed an “infiltrator creator” by the study for his abilities in taking on players and creating chances.

The Gunners winger has made himself an undroppable asset in Mikel Arteta’s team, elevating himself from a temporary left-back to his preferred position of winger.

This season, he has netted ten goals and added five assists but was unable to prevent Arsenal falling to a 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last night.

Palace star Michael Olise also features in the list, in fifth place, with Mason Greenwood, Arminia Bielefeld's Patrick Wimmer, and RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol completing the leaders.

Armando Broja (13th), Gabriel Martinelli (14th) and Rayan Ait-Nouri (23rd) are the other highly-ranked Premier League starlets.