Bukayo Saka has long been considered one of the most promising young players in football, but his performances this season have shown that it's not just potential, he's definitely world class. Ta.
Since joining Arsenal's first team as a 17-year-old in 2018, Saka has quietly gone from strength to strength, integrating into the Emirates culture and quickly becoming a beacon of hope and then one of the pillars of a massive rebuilding story. among.
Emerging as a versatile left-back, it didn't take long for the Englishman's qualities to be recognized and he was promoted to higher ranks on the pitch. Prior to Mikel Arteta's arrival, Saka was always destined to be at the top of his game, despite Arsenal's slump.
Late 2024 will mark six years since his debut, and it is now difficult to name too many right-wingers in world football who have been as consistently destructive as Saka.
Under Arteta, Arsenal have returned to the top of the Premier League and returned to the Champions League. Saka has been absolutely key to that resurgence and is now shining for both club and country.
Still only 22, he has won 32 caps for England and has contributed more than 100 goals in 210 appearances for the Gunners. That's ridiculous.
Arsenal are under constant scrutiny and with their unrelenting task of chasing down Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, it's not often that they get a chance.
With the title challenge collapsing in the 2022-23 season and the absence of Champions League football, doubts remain about Saka's quality as a world-class winger, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to dispute this notion.
So far in the 2023-24 season, Saka has scored 13 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions in just 31 appearances.
Numbers don't tell the whole story. Because it's really fun to watch him twist and connect with defenders on the right side. But for the sake of argument, the numbers go a long way toward proving that the 22-year-old is what he is. They have the best right wingers in the game.
Crucially, there now appears to be a pattern forming within Saka of being always lethal, with him approaching unstoppable territory very quickly and under the floodlights seeing him in the Champions League. It's going to be a real treat to see these performances come out on Knockouts night.
But for now, we are concerned with silencing the doubters (*cough* Rio Ferdinand *cough*). Here are seven statistics that prove Saka has reached a world-class level.
– As of 2024, Bukayo Saka has scored more goals than any other player in the Premier League (6 goals in 5 games).
– Since the start of last season, Saka is one of just five players to have scored at least seven goals in the Premier League with both feet, alongside Olly Watkins, Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Son Heung-min. Yes (via) @OptaAnalyst).
– In addition, Saka and Salah are the only two players in the Premier League to have scored more than 40 goals and provided more than 30 assists since the start of the 2021/22 season. Elite company to join.
Another sensational Saka Strike 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Ih4UMzNC44
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 17, 2024
– following Arsenal's brace as they beat Burnley 5-0 at Turf Moor. Saka has scored or assisted 18 goals in the Premier League so far this season.He is one of only three players to have more (via @StatmanDave).
– Across Europe's top seven leagues, the only players with more touches inside the opposition half than Saka (181) were Victor Goqueres (188) and Kylian Mbappé (183). You can't stop that child.
– Saka became the youngest player (22 years and 159 days) to reach 50 goals for Arsenal since Frank Stapleton in 1978, reaching the milestone in his 210th game for the Gunners.
– His brace against Burnley marked the first time in his career that the 22-year-old has scored in four consecutive Premier League appearances. I turned the corner.
Read next: 10 elite forwards with fewer goals and assists than Bukayo Saka in 2023-24
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