Ray Parlour says Arsenal’s rising star Bukayo Saka is ‘hard to play against’
The Arsenal legend added that Mikel Arteta did very well to keep hold of the 21-year-old, after he recently signed a new contract at the club.
Last season, Bukayo Saka hit double figures, in both goals and assists in the Premier League and he already has lift-off this term.
Parlour mentioned how Arsenal are ‘strong’ in the wide areas because, along with Saka, a certain Gabriel Martinelli is also cooking on the other side, as he told Premier League Productions (21/08/23 at 7:50 pm).
You could even argue that Saka is Arsenal’s most-important player because he hardly gets rotated, nor does he ever get subbed off.
Either way, Parlour was sure to big up the Hale-End academy product, who is now one of the best players in the world in his position.
“He has been absolutely brilliant since he came into the team,” said Parlour. “He is always available. He doesn’t get injured too much.
“He scored a brilliant goal against Forest, he needs to do a bit more of that, cutting in on his left foot. He is such a hard player to play against.
“I think the wide areas for Arsenal are very strong. Look at Martinelli on one wing and Saka on the other.
“But Saka is a massive talent and it was huge that Arteta kept him at the club.”
Saka still has higher levels to reach
For the first time in his career, the England star will play in the Champions League this season.
This is the stage for Saka to showcase his worth and prove that he can be a world-class performer, for club and country.
Added to consistent performances, he needs to sing and dance on domestic football’s biggest stage, which is the Champions League, and also help his side win trophies, do both and he can start to be talked about in the highest of lights.
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