Bukayo Saka has praised Mikel Arteta’s impact on Arsenal since taking over as head coach.

Despite winning just three of his first eight games in charge, the Gunners seem to be making strides under the Spaniard, who replaced Unai Emery at the helm last month.

Getty Images - Getty 1 Bukayo Saka (middle) has been impressed by Mikel Arteta

Arsenal played free-flowing football under legendary manager Arsene Wenger, who won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during his time in charge in north London and Saka, who scored and assisted in the club’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Bournemouth on Monday, says Arteta is attempting to bring the style back.

“Mikel’s trying to bring back the philosophy, the Arsenal passing way, he told Arsenal’s official website.

“I feel like we played really good football in the first-half, not so much in the second-half because we tried to control the game and manage momentum.

“In the first-half we played some good bits of football and the goal obviously was very good.”

On the first goal having 22 passes in the build-up, Arteta said it would be better to score using fewer.

He said: “If we can score in two passes, it’s better!

“We don’t need that many but obviously we need to move the ball and find the right spaces to attack and they’ve done it really well. I think the two goals were really nice.”

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Former Arsenal star Perry Groves raves about Gabriel Martinelli

Gabriel Martinelli slipped in Saka for the opener, and the latter is enjoying playing alongside the Brazilian.

The 18-year-old revealed how he and Martinelli discuss how to terrorise opposition defenders.

“We train a lot together and we speak a lot and we’re good friends.

“Over time we’re speaking about how we’re going to beat the defenders and how we’re going to get in behind and score goals.”

Saka played at left-back due to a shortage of option in the position and Arteta praised the youngster for getting on with his job.

“What I like is that he’s put his head down, it’s not his favourite position to play, but we try to adapt him with his qualities to play him as much as possible in the position that he likes.

“But then he is very willing to learn all the defensive principals that we are asking him to do and his attitude is really good.”