Arsenal icon Martin Keown believes Bukayo Saka is a combination of Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden ‘all in one’. He can see the Manchester United and Manchester City duo in him.
Keown has praised Saka as the England forward captivated the Gunners hero by destroying Luke Shaw last Sunday. The 21-year-old helped Arsenal pip Manchester United 3-2 with his seventh goal of the Premier League season. He has so far hit eight across all competitions.
Saka has also penned seven assists during his 19 top-flight appearances this term as Mikel Arteta’s team top the table. Only Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard (8) has outscored Saka at the north London club. While Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus (6) have their next-most assists.
Only Eddie Nketiah (9) has also outscored Saka and Odegaard (8) across all competitions in 2022/23. Arteta has so far kept Saka to a limited role in their Europa League campaign this season, unlike Nketiah. While Saka did not score in their FA Cup win as Nketiah hit a brace.
Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Oxford United in the third round will now see Saka and co head to the Etihad Stadium to take on Foden and Manchester City this Friday. The Premier League title rivals meet for the first time this term. They will also meet in the top-flight on February 15.
Keown sees Rashford and Foden in Saka after Arsenal beat Manchester United
Saka shone as Arsenal beat Manchester United last Sunday after responding to Rashford’s early opener. The 24-cap England star made it 2-1 early in the second half with an angled effort into the far corner. He also hit David de Gea’s post and created an array of chances.
The Arsenal product left Keown in awe with a performance from Saka that exhibited Foden and Rashford’s traits. He now feels the world is the winger’s oyster as he has the £225k-a-week Manchester City star’s ability to deceive and the pace of the Manchester United ace.
“Saka now has the world at his feet,” Keown wrote in his column for the Daily Mail. “His work ethic is infectious – so is his smile. He has the trickery of Phil Foden and the pace of Marcus Rashford all in one. It is a unique skill set and he is as tough as teak to go with it.
“He totally destroyed Luke Shaw, England’s best left-back and in good form himself. He could beat him down the line or cut inside where he scored a thunderous goal from 25 yards, then later struck the post using the exact same execution.”
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