"Saka has been the one that's been a huge hit, there's no doubt about that."

Bukayo Saka is a shoo-in for England's squad for next month's European Championship finals, according to Nigel Winterburn, who also insists the talented teenager is the future of Arsenal Football Club.

The Gunners' legend is an avowed admirer of Saka, who has come of age at the Emirates in a difficult season at the club.

And Winterburn says he would be "shocked" if the 19-year-old isn't one of the first names on Gareth Southgate's list when he names his 26-man squad for the Euros on May 25.

"Yes, 100 per cent he should make the Euros," Winterburn told freesupertips.com. "I cannot believe that he will not be in the squad with what he has produced for Arsenal in a team that struggled.

"We've also got an increased squad, so I absolutely do not see any way, apart from injuries, that Saka cannot be in that squad. I would be shocked."

Saka made his England debut in a 3-0 win against Wales in October and has gone on to win another three caps under Southgate.And Winterburn, who patrolled Arsenal's left side for over a decade helping the club to league three titles, believes it's the youngster's versatility which gives him an edge over any of his rivals.

"He's a player that can play left back, left wing back and can play on either wing," Winterburn said.

Saka has become a mainstay of the Arsenal side under Arteta having already made 86 first-team appearances, and Winterburn has no doubt that the Spaniard needs to not only hang on to the teenager but build a team around him and the likes of fellow budding superstar, Emile Smith-Rowe.

"They are the future, they're the ones that have come through the club, they know what the club is all about," Winterburn continued.

"Saka has been the one that's been a huge hit, there's no doubt about that.

"Emile Smith-Rowe is moving forward as well, I don't talk about him in the same light as Saka just yet, but Smith-Rowe has been very impressive. Saka has just done it for a longer period of time despite his short career.

"There's no doubt that they can't entertain any bids for the likes of Saka and Smith-Rowe because they are the future of the club."

While Winterburn is delighted to see the progress of some of the Emirates' kids, he also knows the area Arteta has to strengthen next season if Arsenal are to mount any kind of a threat to the top four – the defence.

"I'm looking at the back four, [Kieren] Tierney is the only one assured in the starting eleven every week," stated the former defender. "But who would the other three be?

"That's been Arsenal's problem, there's been no consistency. Rob Holding looks the only other one that seems to be trusted.

"I think Arteta knows the squad needs shaking up and I believe it needs to be strengthened significantly.

"The board have got to come out and give Arteta the money to do that, hopefully, he can raise some funds by trying to move players on.

"This club has gone backwards. We've won four FA Cups, which has sort of kept us going, but since 2006 and the Champions League Final, everything seems to have progressed backwards."

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