Bukayo Saka: Arsenal's humble superstar with the world at his feet

Here's the ever-excellent Thomas Dow on Arsenal's modest but elite Bukayo Saka



Bukayo Saka: Arsenal's humble superstar with the world at his feet

Bukayo Saka: An elite mindset for someone so young writes Thomas Dow for the Gooner Fanzine


On Sunday, Bukayo Saka hit his 50th and 51st goals for The Arsenal.

Coupled with his 49 assists for the club, his 100 goal contributions have led to debates over whether he is in fact, world class.

Rio Ferdinand argued on Vibe with FIVE that although he is top, he isn't quite world class, having not proven himself in the latter phases of the Champions League.

This has brought about the comparison between Saka and indeed Phil Foden of Manchester City, with many believing that the latter edges things in that particular debate.

With Porto in the last 16 coming up next week though, the opportunity for Saka to state his case as an elite level player becomes even more tantalising.

The numbers that Saka has achieved at Arsenal though is telling. At just 22 years of age, he is Arsenal's main attacking threat. When The Gunners need a goal at the big moment, invariably Saka steps up. His 100 goal contributions have come in just 210 games, a statistic made all the more impressive when considering 21 of those appearances came at left back.

Since arriving in the first-team in 2019, his goal involvements have risen season-upon-season. Despite many arguing that he hasn't quite hit the heights of previous campaigns this year, he has already matched his output of 26 goals and assists for the previous campaign. It's only February.

To put that into perspective, Mohamed Salah, a player admired unanimously as being world class, has 27 goal involvements this season. When considering that he is in the peak period of his career, it makes Saka's output at 22 all the more impressive. At the same age, Salah had been sent out on loan from Chelsea.

There is a drive within him that truly sets Saka apart though. He is not a supporting cast member, he is the main feature. When informed that he had notched his 50th goal for the club following the 6-0 drubbing of West Ham, his first thought was to address the chances that he felt he should have scored. An elite mindset for someone so young.

Saka continues to find himself targeted game-after-game. He is often doubled up on in an attempt to restrict his effectiveness. Yet despite this, he has still found a way to influence games.

Whether that be through individual brilliance to set the scene, as we saw on the opening day against Nottingham Forest; or a precise cross into an unmissable area as with Kai Havertz' winner over Brentford, he is the man who can so often turn a game in Arsenal's favour.

Saka might not be world class yet. He might not be universally admired from all quarters.

He is, however, Arsenal's superstar with the world at his feet.

We wouldn't trade him for anyone.


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