SAKA BAGS YOUNG PLAYER AWARD

Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka has bagged the young player of the year award at the London Football Awards for this year. He was named the award recipient on Tuesday night.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0AFa5PXsAkQLLw.jpg

England international Saka has had a phenomenal season for the Gunners. He has grown to be a key player for Arsenal in recent months at the tender age of 19.

Saka has been one of the most consistent players at Arsenal this season with a return of five goals and two assists in 28 matches in the Premier League. His contributions in the league have not been able to propel Arsenal to the European places on the log. The North London giants are barely in the top half of the table. They are in 10^thspot with 46 points from 33 games. Arsenal are almost certain to miss out on European football via the league route alone.

The Gunners best bet for European football next season is through the Europa League. Winning the Europa League automatically means Champions League football but they still have three games potentially to make that happen starting with the Villarreal game on Thursday night.

Arsenal are one of the two England representatives in the Europa League semi-finals this season alongside Manchester United. Italian giants AS Roma are the last four opponents of Manchester United.

The Gunners take on Villarreal away from home in the first leg at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Thursday before the second leg at the Emirates Stadium next week Thursday.

Two teams from England could get to the Europa League final if they manage to overcome their respective opponents in the semis.