West Ham host Arsenal at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a clash that is crucial for both the title race at the top of the table and relegation scrap at the bottom.
The Gunners’ five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table was cut to just two as the Citizens beat Brentford 3-0 on Saturday which only piles the pressure on Arteta’s side even more.
Three points are imperative for Arsenal and speaking ahead of the game, Arteta revealed that Saka could play a huge role in keeping their title ambitions afloat.
“Obviously his role has grown around the club, around the team and on the pitch towards the opponent as well. You sense that. He has got a presence now, he has got an aura. He has got something special.
“He is a different player, he is a player that can change a game at any moment. And creating that fear in the opponent is something important.
“We would have loved to have him much more in recent weeks. But, I said to him: ‘If that’s the case, let’s use this in the best way - which is you are going to jump in fresh, motivated and with a different emotional state. You can really impact the team now’."
Saka struck the decisive goal in Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Atletico in the second leg of their semi-final of the Champions League and could lead the side once more as all eyes turn to the West Ham clash.