Arsene Wenger believes Bukayo Saka is one of England three best players as the debate about the Arsenal winger’s world class status rumbles on.
The 22-year-old is enjoying another hugely productive season and had scored six goals in four appearances, prior to last night’s frustrating Champions League defeat against Porto.
Rio Ferdinand caused uproar amongst Arsenal fans last week by claiming Saka still had much to prove before he could be considered world class.
The former Manchester United defender argued that until Saka still had to show he was capable of delivering elite level performances in the latter stages of European competition on a regular basis before being bestowed with that moniker.
Weight was added to Ferdinand’s argument as Saka endured a difficult night in Porto as Arsenal failed to record a single shot on target in a match that culminated in Galeno’s injury-time winner.
Speaking before the game, however, Wenger was adamant that Saka was already among the world’s best and is destined to go right to the top on account of his attitude as much as his talent.
The former Arsenal manager told beIN Sport: ‘He’s top level because the players at that age that make differences at that level of the game have a great future.
‘He’s a top person as well you know humble wants to learn wants to work his career will now be decided by how much he wants to continue to improve.
‘He’s already certainly one of the three best English players.’
Despite last night’s setback, Arsenal remain confident of progression with the second leg to come at the Emirates Stadium in three weeks’ time.
‘We’ll need absolutely everyone,’ said influential midfielder Declan Rice. ‘The Emirates is going to be rocking.
‘We feel that when it’s like that at our stadium it’s obviously one of the best places in the world to play football so we’ll be ready for it, I’m already looking forward to it and fans get right behind us. We’ll need everyone.
‘We worked really hard, prepared really well. Obviously it wasn’t meant to be in terms of the way we created the chances tonight. After the start of 2024 we had, there’s a lot to learn, a lot to take from tonight.
‘I think that’s a real positive, obviously to concede late is a real kick in the teeth but the positive is it’s half-time in two legs. We’ve got the home leg now, which we’re going to be fully up for with our fans, and have that goal to reach the quarter-final.’
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