Tottenham Hotspur supporters across England would have been screaming with joy when Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka put away his penalty against Switzerland.
Everyone remembers that gut-wrenching moment against Italy in the final of Euro 2020 and the Arsenal man’s worst moment of his career.
But class is permanent for a reason and Bukayo Saka proved that when he won Man of the Match as England beat Switzerland on penalties to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
Arsenal fans will tell you that this shouldn’t be a surprise because they have witnessed this high-level play from the Hale-End star week in and week out, even though many have questioned him throughout the tournament.
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Gary Neville was delighted with Saka and suggested that the Arsenal star is ‘everything you want in a football player’.
But his comments on how the 22-year-old is viewed will perhaps, not just divide Tottenham supporters, but other main rivals of the London club.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United are probably seen as Arsenal’s main rivals, with Manchester City coming into the picture recently because they are battling Mikel Arteta’s side for the Premier League title.
Neville thinks there aren’t many players who ‘transcend club rivalries’ and he thinks Saka is one of those and in a unique boat, as he told ITV Sport.
The Manchester United legend added that the Euro 2024 semi-finalist is ‘enjoyed by every fan from every club’, but you have to wonder if such a comment would divide Spurs supporters.
Bukayo Saka at Euro 2024 with England
“I don’t know many players who transcend sort of club rivalries, but he is one of those players who I think is enjoyed by every fan from every club,” said Neville.
“You look at him and just think he is a joy, he has got that happiness and that spirit in his game. He is a fighter. He keeps going right to the end, he always wants the ball, he is everything you want in a football player as it’s meant to be as a kid.”
Bukayo Saka against Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs fans will, unfortunately, remember and still have it raw in their heads of Arsenal running riot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season.
Inside the first half, the title chasers were 3-0 up, including a brilliant breakaway goal from Saka.
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After that game, you don’t think every Spurs fan is exactly appreciating the brilliance of Saka because that’s probably not the case.
There is no doubt they will be cheering him on in an England shirt, but he will be treated like any other rival player once that Arsenal shirt is put back on, even if he is very likeable off the pitch.
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