Michael Owen says Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka is ‘right up there’ to be a contender for the Premier League’s Player of the Year, alongside Manchester City’s goal-crazy and record-breaking striker, Erling Haaland.
The former England striker added that Haaland, who is probably going to break every goalscoring record possible, will probably still walk away with the individual prize, but he ‘definitely’ feels that Saka is in the conversation.
This comes after Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal secured a comfortable 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, with Saka netting a brace and supplying an assist to help the Gunners open up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Those three-goal involvements meant that Saka has become the first Premier League player this season to hit double digits in the goals and assists department.
That’s 12 goals and ten assists for the 21-year-old from his 28 Premier League games, and with one last run to go, there’s plenty more left in the £70k-a-week player’s (Spotrac) tank yet.
Nonetheless, when Owen was asked if England’s rising star can be in the conversation with Haaland for Player of the Year (POTY), he backed that call, as he told Premier League Productions (19/03/23 at 4:15 pm).
“He (Saka) would 100% be in the conversation,” said Owen. “It looks like Haaland, that number nine you are talking about.
“He is going to break virtually every record that has ever been set, in terms of goalscoring in the Premier League this season.
“But, when you are talking about having conversations about other players, then Saka definitely is right up there.”
RASHFORD-KANE-SAKA
The international break is upon us and England, after their disappointment at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where they were booted out by France, will return to action.
Previously, Raheem Sterling has been in the conversation to be in England’s starting forward line, but the Chelsea forward, since his summer transfer from Manchester City, has fallen off a cliff.
Now, England’s forward line picks itself, with Marcus Rashford cooking in Man United’s colours, Harry Kane on 20 goals from 27 games and Saka one of the most complete forwards in Europe.
All in all, Gareth Southgate can’t deny that his team has some serious firepower at their disposal.
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