‘World class’ debates never end well, but in Bukayo Saka’s case, there’s been an almighty defence launched.
The Arsenal superstar is entering the conversation as one of the very best attackers in the game, having started the season with seven Premier League assists, the most of any player in Europe’s big five leagues.
Now in his sixth full season of senior football, the 23-year-old is one of the first names on the teamsheet for both the Gunners and England.
Such status isn’t easy to achieve, either. For the Three Lions he has to compete with other elite talents in Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, while at Arsenal, continued improvement is non-negotiable as they become regular trophy challengers.
Saka is mastering both of those feats, putting him in the conversation as ‘world class’ – a term hard to define, and often subjective.
Some talkSPORT pundits, namely Gabby Agbonlahor, Danny Mills and Jason Cunday have ruled him out, comparing him unfavourably to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah who puts up better numbers in the same position.
But that’s caused a tide of disagreement, and even a warning for rival supporters.
Making his case, Darren Bent argued: “I think he’s been playing at such a high level for so long that we’re so used to him seeing him playing at this level that people – not Arsenal fans – are looking for reasons to discredit him.
“Even his numbers in terms of assists this season are incredible. They will find something to say about him ‘he’s only got one goal’. Every international tournament Saka shows up.”
Renowned Arsenal podcaster Clive Palmer went even further, explaining just how good the attacker has become.
“There are many facets and phases to a game and you can trust him in any phase of a game,” he began.
“You can trust him as an auxiliary fullback, he can push up high, he can take it on the inside, he’s quick on transitions and defensive and going forward, he’s a completely rounded footballer.
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“I feel like a lot of Arsenal people are trying to tell everybody about this, but maybe they just need to keep a bit quiet and relax about because it’s still early in the season.
“They’ll know soon enough when he arrives on their pitch and we shouldn’t get angry about comparisons to players who are not so rounded in their game, who can’t play off the ball, who can’t play defensively going backwards.
“If you know your football, this isn’t a serious conversation. What he’s produced in the past three or four years was in a team on the way up, it wasn’t a top team and he’s got us here and he’s still going up, he’s getting better.
“If people don’t think he’s good, look at what other coaches are doing to stop him, and they’ll tell you how good he is.”
Former Gunner Adrian Clarke was in agreement, adding: “There’s a bit of serenity in his play now, he knows he can drive past players on the inside or the outside, he just looks smooth and the way he strikes the ball even, it’s cleaner, when he came through his finishing wasn’t great and now he hits the ball so cleanly.”
It’s not just those with an Arsenal leaning on Saka’s side either, with former Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Ham manager Alan Pardew adding: “Saka underlining his quality to that team, they’re looking like proper contenders like they did last year and you could argue that they’re even stronger this season. I think they will win it [the Premier League].”
Ex-Chelsea and Ireland striker Tony Cascarino joined in too, commenting: “Saka’s a different class, I think he’s become a man in the last year.
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“There was this young kid who was really bright and electric and would cause problems, but I watched him against Dan Burn thinking ‘this will be interesting’ but Saka didn’t shirk anything against him physically.”
The debate will undoubtedly rage on, but with more of football’s most prominent names moving to Saka’s side and his production ever-increasing, it may not be long before it’s one that’s put to bed.
