Bukayo Saka would never show off in his school matches, despite dominating his classmates even using his weak foot, according to his former teacher.

Arsenal's English striker Bukayo Saka during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on December 29, 2020. (Photo by NEIL HALL / POOL / AFP)
Arsenal’s English striker Bukayo Saka during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on December 29, 2020. (Photo by NEIL HALL / POOL / AFP)

Bukayo Saka is an Arsenal youth product through-and-through, having been at the club for more than half of his life before he even broke into the first team.

But the young winger didn’t only play for his club during his teenage years. He also enjoyed games with Greenford High School, which he attended through his GCSE years.

Mark Harvey, Saka’s PE teacher at the time, says he was a humble boy even back then. In fact, they used to give him handicaps to try and make it a fair game – not that it would do much stop him.

“On the pitch, he was amazing but he would never boast about it,” Harvey said. “During 5-a-side games he would mark students who were clearly lower in ability than him but he would never embarrass them.

“He was just a nice sportsman, which was admirable and hard to come by. There were no rainbow flicks or rabonas like many of the 14-year-olds who think they’re Lionel Messi. He did the simple things well, which was great for a teacher to witness.

“I remember we used to ask him to play purely on his right foot and not on his left at school – and he still dominated.”

Perhaps we have the Greenford staff to thank for Saka’s proficiency using his right foot for Arsenal today. It’s one of the things that has made him so effective on the right-wing, where he’s willing to cut inside on his left or go past you and cross with his right.

They certainly did a good job with the Arsenal man, who also received top results in his school exams. They’re surely very proud when they see him out there on the pitch today.