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Former Arsenal midfielder Anders Limpar has pointed to what he believes is the key to getting the very best out of England winger Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal start the defence of their Premier League title against newly promoted Coventry City next Friday, and manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping desperately that Saka is fully fit and ready to make a major impact as early as possible.

Saka had fitness issues during the World Cup and was used only sparingly by England manager Thomas Tuchel, but he has been back in pre-season training with Arsenal and is preparing for the new campaign with the champions.

Limpar, a prominent member of the impressive Sweden national side from the early 1990s, wants Arsenal’s recruitment staff to think long-term about how to maximise Saka’s peak years. In his view, the answer is an England international who did not feature at all in the World Cup.

“I don't think Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to leave Real Madrid,” Limpar told Sveacasino.

“He's tough. He will be ready to fight to get his place back. He is not soft. He is a strong character.

“Of course, Arsenal need good players and strong characters and Alexander-Arnold is a good player with a strong character, especially when it comes to playing forward and going on the attack.”

Building a side, and indeed a transfer policy, around Saka’s potential would represent a huge show of faith in the 24-year-old, who has more than earned that level of trust across seven seasons as a regular in Arsenal’s first team.

“It would be great for Arsenal but it would be absolutely great for Bukayo Saka if Alexander-Arnold arrived because there is a similarity between Saka and Mohamed Salah, and Trent would know exactly what to do with Saka,” added Limpar, while acknowledging that the move is unlikely to happen.

“I don’t think Arsenal need to worry about this now because Trent Alexander-Arnold is a grafter of a player and he will stay at Real Madrid for another three or four years or however long it takes because he hasn’t shown his best for them yet.

“He has had injuries, he has been in and out, and he isn’t the only player who struggled there last season. He will want to fight his way back into the team under Jose Mourinho and prove everyone wrong.”

Limpar made more than 150 top-flight appearances during his seven years in England, winning the First Division with Arsenal in 1991 and then lifting the FA Cup with Everton four years later.

He later had short spells with AIK and Djurgarden in Sweden, as well as with Colorado Rapids in the early days of Major League Soccer, before returning to his first club, Brommapojkarna, where he finished his playing career.