Robert Pires has named four stars he ‘really likes’ and revealed he still mentors ‘quality’ Bukayo Saka.
Following a period of stagnation, Arsenal appear to be finding their groove under Mikel Arteta and are the favourites to finish in the top-four with ten Premier League games to play.
Gunners legend Pires believes Arteta has ‘finally found the right formula’ with several impressive youngsters combining with experienced heads at the Emirates.
The Arsenal ‘Invincible’ has been particularly impressed by Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Aaron Ramsdale, revealing he is in regular contact with Saka.
‘We’ve all seen his quality,’ Pires said of Saka in an interview with . ‘I’m not surprised by his career.
‘I’m in contact with him and we chat from time to time. He asks me for advice, and he’s a very intelligent boy.
‘Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli… they’re all important players I really like. It’s the same with Aaron Ramsdale.
‘Together, they represent the future of Arsenal and must grow alongside more experienced players like Xhaka, Gabriel or Partey. That mix was hard to put together, but Mikel Arteta has finally found the right formula.’
Arsenal will look to boost their top-four hopes against Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace on Monday night, but look set to be without first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Saka should be available, however, after he missed England’s two friendlies during the international break after .
‘Bukayo [Saka] is feeling good and Aaron [Ramsdale], it’s a doubt,’ Arteta said at his pre-match press conference.
‘He is still feeling not great and hasn’t trained yet so we don’t know what he’ll be able to do on Monday.’
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