Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka draws comparisons to football legends

Even though the Arsenal squad has several top-tier players, Bukayo Saka has established himself as one of the brightest stars with his performance. Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has developed into one of the premier teams in world football, with Saka playing a pivotal role.

The Gunners kicked off their Premier League season with an impressive 2-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Saka stood out as the best player on the pitch.

The England international first assisted Kai Havertz and then completed a stellar finish into the back of the net. His outstanding performance has now earned him high praise from World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf.

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Saka Compared to Mbappe and Henry

Bukayo Saka has been exceptional for both Arsenal and England in recent years, consistently improving with each season. In the 2023/24 campaign, he scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists across all competitions which is a remarkable feat for a wide player. He has carried this form into the new season, starting with a goal and an assist on the opening day against Wolves.

Frank Leboeuf, who was part of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team, recently shared his thoughts on Saka’s abilities. Leboeuf compared Saka’s knack for cutting inside and creating chances to that of French legends Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe.

When discussing why defenders struggle to stop Saka from cutting in, Leboeuf explained on ESPN FC, “Because you always think that it’s too obvious and he won’t do it again. You will expect him to go on your left side, but he does it again. You know, he knows he is very smart because he doesn’t go close to the defender – he stays two yards away. Like that, he has the possibility to curl the ball and do whatever he wants. The defender facing him doesn’t have the time to go close to him. He’s very clever in that matter.”

Leboeuf continued, “He’s technically perfect because he can put it in the far post and near post, it’s not a problem for him, he’s very accurate. We had so many players like that – remember Thierry Henry coming from the other side. Mbappe also when he was at Paris Saint-Germain last season. It’s almost impossible to cope with those players unless you have two or three players around him. But, one against one, well, you have to bow and say: ‘Well done, sir!’”