Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal star Bukayo Saka 'in ridiculous form' and reminiscent of Arjen Robben - 'You can’t stop him'
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Published 08/11/2023 at 23:14 GMT
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was one of the stars of the show in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League as he scored one goal and set another up. His goal came from cutting in from the right wing onto his favoured left foot, a move that reminded TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand of Dutch legend Arjen Robben. Ferdinand praised Saka's "ridiculous form" for the Gunners.
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Bukayo Saka was praised by Rio Ferdinand for his “ridiculous form," while the Arsenal winger earned comparisons to Arjen Robben for the way defenders “can’t stop” him.
Saka scored one goal and set up another in a 2-0 UEFA Champions League win for the Gunners over Sevilla on Wednesday.
There were some concerns when he seemed to jar his leg and hobbled off the pitch with five minutes to go, but manager Mikel Arteta said after the game that it was only “a knock".
Saka was named PFA Young Player of the Year for 2022/23 and has started the new campaign where he left off, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in 16 games across all competitions.
“He’s been in ridiculous form for a long period of time now, for such a young player,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports.
Fellow pundit Martin Keown pointed out that Saka is always looking to get on his left foot to get a shot away.
It’s a move that reminded Ferdinand of former Netherlands and Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben, who was famously fond of cutting in from the right wing to shoot on his left.
“I’m not saying [Saka] is anywhere near Robben yet, but there are certain players who always want to get onto a certain side, which is his left side, and you can’t stop him,” Ferdinand said.
“You know it’s coming, but they’re so good at disguising and trickery, that they manage to get it onto that left foot, and he’s done that again today.”
Arsenal’s win kept them top of Group B and left Arteta’s side needing one point from their remaining two games against Lens and PSV to progress to the last 16.
The professional job they have done on their return to European football’s top tournament for the first time in seven years has impressed Keown.
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“Arsenal are now looking like they belong in the Champions League again,” said the three-time Premier League winner.
“Totally dominant tonight, their opponents not having a shot on goal until the 96th minute says it all really.
“The leading lights are the youngsters: Martinelli and Saka.”
Next up for Arsenal is a home game against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, where they will look to close the three-point gap to leaders Manchester City.
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