David Bentley says Bukayo Saka has been ‘exceptional’ for Arsenal this season alongside Gabriel Martinelli.
The two young guns have played regular roles out on the flanks for Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title-chasing side and have taken their game to the next level.
Gabriel Martinelli, who had to go off injured in the first half against Brighton on Sunday, has found the back of the net on 15 occasions, whilst Bukayo Saka has 13 goals and 11 assists to his name.
It’s been an incredible season for the duo and Arsenal fans will be hoping they are the long-term future of the club.
Arteta deserves credit for their rise because one has come through the academy and the other arrived as a fresh-faced teenager from Brazil, who not many knew about and he struggled during his first 18 or so months.
Nonetheless, Bentley, who came through as a young star from Arsenal’s academy during his playing days, has waxed lyrical about the two men on their flanks now, as he told Stadium Astro.
“I think Saka has been exceptional,” said Bentley. “Another young lad with great ability.
“Martinelli, both players, I think they can both be up there as (Player of the Season). It would be hard to split.”
SAKA AND MARTINELLI, THE FUTURE OF ARSENAL…
Despite the duo putting in such high-quality performances for their team, they still have a few more levels to go up.
Perhaps playing Champions League football next season will do that because they will play that competition for the first time in their careers.
That’s when they will find out the levels because a certain Thierry Henry recently lauded Real Madrid’s Champions League winner, Vinicius Jr as the best winger in the world, ahead of Martinelli.
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