Arteta praises Arsenal player after win, comparing him to Messi due to his quality.

After Arsenal's 2-0 win against Wolves in their Premier League opener on Saturday, Mikel Arteta was asked about the impressive performance of young winger Bukayo Saka. The Gunners' manager couldn't help but smile as he responded, drawing a comparison between Saka and the legendary Lionel Messi.

When questioned about Saka's tendency to cut inside onto his left foot, Arteta replied, "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 much debate surrounding Saka's level of skill, with some arguing that he is not yet a world-class footballer. This debate was further fueled when Rio Ferdinand stated on his show "Vibe with Five" that Saka was not yet at that level. However, Saka has consistently been Arsenal's most important attacking player and has impressed in the Premier League.

Some have questioned what exactly constitutes being "world-class," with Ferdinand stating, "It's almost like what is world-class? He hasn't done it in the Champions League, has he? I'm talking in the nitty-gritty stages."

In comparison, Messi has won four Champions League titles and has a long list of domestic and international successes, as well as individual achievements. Saka, on the other hand, has won one FA Cup and two Community Shields since joining Arsenal's academy in 2008.

Despite the ongoing debate, Saka's performance against Wolves only solidified his importance to the Arsenal team. With his teammate Kai Havertz also getting on the scoresheet, the Gunners got off to a perfect start at the Emirates.

But it's not just Arteta who sees Saka's potential. During a flight to Porto in February, Ferdinand was trolled by Arsenal fans after he insisted that Saka was not yet at the world-class level. The young winger has proven himself time and time again on the pitch, and with more experience and opportunities, he could very well reach that elite level.

As for Arteta, he couldn't help but draw parallels between Saka and Messi, one of the greatest footballers of all time. And while Saka may not have the same level of accolades as Messi at this point in his career, his potential and talent cannot be denied. Only time will tell if he will one day be considered world-class, but for now, he remains a crucial player for Arsenal.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]