Mikel Arteta has built a terrific squad at the Emirates Stadium over the last few years, and the Gunners are now up there with the best teams in the world.
Arsenal kicked off their Premier League campaign with an impressive win over Gary O’Neil’s Wolverhampton Wanderers at home.
One player, in particular, was a level above everyone else, and he has now earned rave reviews from World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka compared to Kylian Mbappe and Thierry Henry
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is one of the best players in the world.
The Englishman has been absolutely amazing for club and country in recent years, and he has been improving season after season.
In the 2023/24 campaign, Saka scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions for Arsenal. That is a sensational return for a wide player.
Now, he has started the new season brilliantly as well, picking up a goal and an assist on the opening day against Wolves.
Leboeuf, who helped France win the 1998 FIFA World Cup final against Brazil, has now delivered his verdict on the talented Arsenal winger.
He has compared Saka’s ability to cut inside and cause damage to that of two elite French footballers – Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe.
When asked why defenders can’t stop Saka from cutting in, Leboeuf said 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.
“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!'”
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC ...
Mikel Arteta compared Saka to another football legend
Being compared to an icon like Henry and a superstar like Mbappe must be an incredible feeling, and Saka completely deserves it.
What the Englishman has been doing for club and country at such a young age over the last few years is simply extraordinary. He deserves a lot of praise.
Against Wolves in the opening game of this season, the Arsenal number seven fired an unstoppable shot with his left foot to score past Jose Sa in goal.
After the game, Mikel Arteta compared Saka to Lionel Messi because of the way he cut inside easily and found the back of the net.
Comparisons to Messi, Henry and Mbappe all in one week show just how good a player Saka really is.
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