Could Bukayo Saka Be England’s Not So Secret Weapon At Euro 2020?
Having been named Arsenal’s Player of the Month for the third consecutive time, nineteen-year-old Bukayo Saka is proving to be a beacon of hope amidst a muted 2020/21 campaign for the Gunners.
For those who’ve watched Saka settle into Mikel Arteta’s system, we’re well aware of the talent this multifaceted footballer possesses. It comes as no surprise then to hear rumblings of an England call-up coming his way right in time for Euro 2020.
Alongside the other North London youngsters, Bukayo Saka regularly outperforms some of our biggest names here at the Emirates. So could we be watching the winger tearing up the pitch this summer ahead of a refreshingly stacked list of England candidates?
To evaluate his chances of appearing at Euro 2020, this article will:
- Explore the odds of an England call-up over other stars
- Discuss how he can fit into the lineup and factor into Southgate’s plans
Read on as we take a quick look at our wonderkid and find out why he could — and should — be the England national team’s secret weapon at Euro 2020.
What are the chances of Saka getting an England call-up?
Despite Saka being a brilliant player at Arsenal and well-deserving of an opportunity to prove himself on a global stage, England has an embarrassment of talent to pick from.
To stop us from getting ahead of ourselves and anointing Saka before Southgate even gets his notebook out, we need to compare his performance this season with his potential England teammates.
One way to understand Saka’s chances of earning a Euro 2020 spot is to see how other English stars in similar roles are faring in the race for PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
For the purpose of this article, we have sourced betting odds from FansBet — one of the best-reviewed online casinos/sports betting sites — to determine Saka’s chances using trusted stats and get an expert opinion on likelihoods.
Here is what FansBet had to say about the Prem’s top English talent this season:
- Jack Grealish: 14/1
- Phil Foden: 25/1
- Raheem Sterling: 66/1
- Marcus Rashford: 50/1
- James Maddison: 80/1
Surprisingly, Saka is on very few sports betting shortlists when it comes to the PFA Players’ Player of the Year race, but he is nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year alongside other national team hopefuls Mason Mount and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Saka also faces competition from the likes of Jadon Sancho who continues to tear up the Bundesliga in partnership with Erling Haaland — so if our wonderkid is to make an impact at Euro 2020, he must be adaptable and willing to play anywhere on the pitch.
How would Saka fit into England’s Euro 2020 lineup?
While England might have enough attacking strength to warrant leaving Saka out of their Euro 2020 squad, Southgate also has a track record of picking a back three flanked by overlapping wingbacks — positions we don’t foresee being filled by Jadon Sancho or Raheem Sterling.
On the other hand, like a footballing Swiss army knife, Saka’s versatility lends itself perfectly to almost any wide position on the pitch.
Although Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion on the right is almost a formality at this point, the left could be up for grabs after Ben Chilwell’s opportunities (or lack thereof) under Tuchel has put his starting XI position under pressure from both Saka and Luke Shaw.
Whether it be part of the starting line-up or off the bench as an energetic super-sub, Saka has the potential to surprise any Euro 2020 side that hasn’t done their research on our not so secret wonderkid.
