Sensational Bukayo Saka: Arsenal’s winger taking the world by storm

Bukayo Saka was once again a standout performer for Arsenal in their 2-1 win over Brentford, in what is now becoming the norm for the academy graduate affectionately dubbed the ‘star boy’.

The 20-year-old continues his meteoric rise in world football as he showed precisely why the Gunners must fend off scavenging outsiders and keep hold of their Hale End product. Such is his presence on the Arsenal side that you can easily put him in the ‘untouchable, give him whatever he wants’ bracket.

Having been a shining light for the Gunners this season, against Brentford his superb talent was again on show.

He was scintillating in the first half again Brentford, terrorizing the visitors’ left-hand side. His pace, willingness to run at his man and physical attributes showed he was a class above in a Man of the Match performance. Saka was borderline unplayable in the first half and should have received several free kicks as Rico Henry will have nightmares about Arsenal’s star winger. Henry joins the long line of left-backs who’ve suffered similar.

Sensational Bukayo Saka: Arsenal’s winger is taking the Premier League and the world by storm with continued excellence under Arteta

He capped his superb outing with a well-taken goal last in the second half, his fifth in his last six top-flight matches. It was one crafted out of almost nothing given the angle he had to shoot from. A slick counter-attack ended with the Saka lashing his shot across David Raya, cannoning in off the post to double his side’s lead.

Many are starting to run out of superlatives for Saka as he consistently is one of Arsenal’s better players on the pitch. His willingness to shoulder much of the attacking responsibility is something that should be lauded. He unapologetically puts the team on his back.

One aspect of his game that perhaps goes unnoticed is his physicality. Several times this season Aaron Ramsdale has pinged long balls to the young winger, who comfortably holds off his defender and then proceeds to lay it off for a teammate or drive towards the 18-yard area. Even in the face of a stern tackle, Saka, more often than not, still comes away with the ball. That is something that generally can’t be said as wingers in his age often have a lighter frame and can perhaps be moved off the ball a little easily.

His ability to work space for himself and wriggle between defenders is now becoming a trademark as, despite his tender age, Saka is close to already being a well-rounded wide player who has all the necessary tools at his disposal to consistently perform on the pitch.

Saka’s link-up with his teammates is another superb quality. Often seen with Martin Odegaard or Takehiro Tomiyasu in creating overloads and neat triangles to work each other into space, the 20-year-old is just as adept at making chances for himself as he is making them for others. His out to in runs and off the ball movement is some of the best seen in the entire Premier League.

It can’t go unmentioned, either, that he taken his game to a new level and possesses a real goal threat this campaign.

From his 23 games across all competitions this season Saka has already surpassed his best goals tally of five (last season) having netted seven times for Arsenal in 2021/22.

Reports are saying the Gunners need Champions League football to keep him, but that does seem a little far-fetched at this stage. For the sake of his development alone, staying in north London makes sense for him.

His love for the club is undeniable but at the same time, Arsenal shouldn’t take that for granted. He needs to be taken care of as for the first time in what feels like forever, the Gunners have a true generational talent on their hands.