August 17th 2024.
Mikel Arteta was in high spirits after Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Wolves in their first Premier League match of the season. The manager was asked about Bukayo Saka's impressive performance, specifically his tendency to cut inside onto his left foot. Arteta couldn't help but smile at the question and even went as far as to compare Saka to the legendary Lionel Messi.
When asked about why teams allow Saka to cut inside, Arteta replied with a knowing grin, "Good players, you know... With [Lionel] Messi, I know he's going to come in and put the ball there. He does it all the time. It's the quality of the players." The comparison to Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, is high praise indeed.
There has been much debate over whether Saka should be considered a world-class player or not, despite his impressive performances for Arsenal and his crucial role in their attack. In fact, earlier this year, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand faced backlash from Arsenal fans for stating that Saka was not yet world-class.
Ferdinand explained his reasoning, saying, "He hasn't done it in the Champions League, has he? I'm talking in the nitty-gritty stages." However, Saka's young age and lack of experience could be factors in his performance on the biggest stage, as he has only been a regular starter for Arsenal since breaking into the first team in the 2019-2020 season.
On the other hand, Messi has won four Champions League titles with Barcelona and has countless domestic and international successes to his name, including eight Ballon d'Or awards. Saka, on the other hand, has only won one FA Cup and two Community Shields since joining Arsenal's academy in 2008.
While Saka may not yet have the same level of experience and achievements as Messi, Arteta's comparison shows just how highly he values the young player's abilities. And with Saka's continued growth and development, it may only be a matter of time before he reaches the same level as the footballing legend.
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