August 17th 2024.
During his post-match press conference, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked about the impressive performance of Bukayo Saka, who scored a goal in their 2-0 victory against Wolves in their Premier League opener on Saturday. Arteta couldn't help but smile when he heard the question and went on to make a comparison between Saka and none other than the legendary Lionel Messi.
When questioned about why teams allow Saka to cut inside onto his left foot, Arteta responded with a grin, "Good players, you know... with Messi, I know he's going to come in here and put the ball there. He does it all the time. It's the quality of the players."
There has been an ongoing debate about whether Saka can be considered a world-class footballer, despite being Arsenal's key attacking player and consistently delivering impressive performances in the top-flight league. In fact, back in February, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand faced backlash from Arsenal fans after he publicly stated that Saka was not yet world-class.
Ferdinand clarified his statement by saying, "I think Saka's been unreal... but it's almost like, what is world-class? He hasn't done it in the Champions League, has he? I'm talking about the nitty-gritty stages." It's true that Arsenal has not reached the Champions League semi-finals since 2008-09, which was also the year Saka joined their academy from Watford.
On the other hand, Messi has won an impressive four Champions League titles and has a long list of domestic and international successes, along with numerous individual achievements, including a record eight Ballon d'Ors. Meanwhile, Saka has won one FA Cup and two Community Shields since breaking into the Arsenal first team.
Despite the ongoing debate, one thing is for sure - Saka's talent and potential have caught the attention of top footballers like Arteta, who see shades of Messi in the young winger's playing style. Only time will tell if Saka will continue to impress and solidify his place among the world's best footballers.
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