August 17th 2024.
During Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Wolves in their Premier League opener on Saturday, manager Mikel Arteta was asked about Bukayo Saka's tendency to cut inside onto his left foot. Arteta, who couldn't hide his smile, went on to compare Saka to none other than the legendary Lionel Messi.
When questioned about why teams allow Saka to cut inside, Arteta responded, "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." This comparison to Messi, who is widely considered to be the best footballer of all time, speaks volumes about Arteta's admiration for Saka's abilities.
There has been much debate over whether Saka should be considered a world-class footballer, despite his impressive performances for Arsenal. In fact, back in February, Rio Ferdinand faced backlash from Arsenal fans after stating that Saka was not yet world-class. Ferdinand acknowledged Saka's talent but argued that he had yet to prove himself in the "nitty-gritty stages" like the Champions League.
On the other hand, Messi has won four Champions League titles and numerous other accolades throughout his career. Comparing the two players' achievements may seem unfair, especially considering that Saka is only 19 years old and has not yet had the opportunity to compete at the highest level like Messi has.
Although Saka may not have the same level of experience and accomplishments as Messi, he has still been a crucial player for Arsenal in recent seasons. Since joining the Arsenal academy from Watford in 2008, Saka has helped the team win one FA Cup and two Community Shields.
It's clear that Saka has a bright future ahead of him, and his potential is undeniable. And as for his world-class status? Well, that's still up for debate. But with his skills and determination, it's safe to say that Saka has the potential to reach the same level as Messi one day. Only time will tell.
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