Arsenal add Saka and Okonkwo to Europa League squad
Arsenal have added Bukayo Saka and Arthur Okonkwo to their list of registered players for the Europa League after the Hale End products signed their first professional contracts recently.
Winger Saka and goalkeeper Okonkwo have been assigned squad numbers 87 and 86 respectively.
Cohen Bramall was left out of Arsenal’s Europa League squad, while Zech Medley and Jordan McEneff aren’t yet eligible for inclusion as they haven’t been at the club for two whole years.
Arsenal’s Europa League squad:
1. Petr Cech, 2. Hector Bellerin, 4. Mohamed Elneny, 5. Sokratis Papastahopoulos, 6. Laurent Koscielny, 7. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 8. Aaron Ramsey, 9. Alexandre Lacazette, 10. Mesut Ozil, 11. Lucas Torreira, 12. Stephan Lichtsteiner, 14. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 15. Ainsley Maitland-Niles*, 16. Rob Holding, 17. Alex Iwobi, 18. Nacho Monreal, 19. Bernd Leno, 20. Shkodran Mustafi, 23. Danny Welbeck, 25. Carl Jenkinson, 26. Emiliano Martinez, 27. Konstantinos Mavropanos, 29. Matteo Guendouzi, 31. Sead Kolasinac, 34. Granit Xhaka, 36. Daniel Ballard*, 38. Tolaji Bola*, 40. Robbie Burton*, 43. Charlie Gilmour*, 44. Deyan Iliev, 49. Eddie Nketiah*, 50. Joseph Olowu*, 51. Tobi Omole*, 52. Jordi Osei-Tutu*, 53. Julio Pleguezuelo*, 54. Ben Sheaf*, 55. Emile Smith Rowe*, 56. Dominic Thompson*, 57. Nathan Tormey*, 59. Joe Willock*, 60. Gedion Zelalem*, 66. Xavier Amaechi*, 69. Harry Clarke*, 70. Trae Coyle*, 72. Tyreece John-Jules*, 86. Arthur Okonkwo*, 87. Bukayo Saka*
An exciting young wide player with a fine left foot. Only a matter of time before we hear more of Bukayo: he's just way too talented to stay under the radar.
Arsenal striker Bukayo Saka told BT Sport: "It was a dream come true. Ever since I joined the club at the age of eight, I have always dreamed of playing at the Emirates. I didn't start too fast but I grew into the game and then I started to get past my man better. I should have scored at the end, but I don't know what happened.
"The manager told me I was playing yesterday in training and I couldn't believe it. My family were buzzing and they couldn't stop smiling but they managed to put me to bed early. It feels good because we are on a long unbeaten run and we want to end it, the coach wants us to keep winning.
"I just have to keep playing well at youth level, and any time I get the chance at the first team, I have to impress and show him what I can do."