Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it would be “a positive thing” if winger Bukayo Saka sought to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo’s career numbers.

England international Saka already has a combined 18 goals and assists in as many appearances for the Gunners this season.

The 23-year-old has scored in each of his past three games before facing Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, and is behind only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah for Premier League goal involvements this season.

Asked whether Saka should look to emulate his childhood hero Ronaldo’s remarkable statistics, Arteta said: “To look is always good. The way Cristiano started his career, and when he joined Manchester United, nobody probably expected in the first few seasons he would be able to do that.”

He added: “It was about his mentality, his work ethic, how he developed his skill, his chemistry with his team and to play in a team that has the capacity as well to be dominant.

“That is very, very important. I think Bukayo has got that context and if he is aiming for that, I think it is a positive thing.”

Ronaldo, who joined Manchester United as an 18-year-old in 2003, is a five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or – awarded to the world’s best player.

The Portugal star is also a five-time Champions League winner and the all-time leading scorer in Europe’s elite club competition.

“In terms of the numbers, we always see a shift in Bukayo every single year,” Arteta said.

“He is providing something else. He is adding things to his game, he is more and more consistent, and his numbers in terms of impact in goals and assists is incredible at this stage of the season.

“He can only improve, he can only get better. He has got the right players around him to continue to do so and especially because he wants more.”