World-class Bukayo Saka can 'decide matches at the top level' - Rio Ferdinand hails winger as he enters upper echelons of players
Updated 17/04/2025 at 10:15 GMT+1
TNT Sports experts Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown were gushing in their praise of Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, who scored a resplendent chip over Thibaut Courtois in Arsenal's 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu over defending UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid. Gabriel Martinelli scored their second goal to send them through 5-1 on aggregate and book a semi-final date with Paris-Saint Germain.
'100% world class footballer' - Ferdinand praises Saka after performance against Real Madrid
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Rio Ferdinand believes that Bukayo Saka's performance to clinch Arsenal's spot in the UEFA Champions League semi-final has boosted him into the upper echelons of "world-class" players.
After missing a penalty in the first half, the winger replied with a sumptuous chip over Thibaut Courtois to give The Gunners the lead on the night, and at the time, a four-goal advantage on aggregate.
Vinicius Junior quickly replied for the hosts, but it was futile, and Saka's goal was icing on the cake of a completely dominant display over two legs from Mikel Arteta's side.
"Saka, in terms of defining and being decisive," Ferdinand began.
"I've debated it quite a lot over the years about, 'Is he world-class?' 100%.
"A world-class footballer who will decide matches now for the rest of his career at the top level.
"They've come out on top today. It's only one game over two games, I get that. But it's a chance to think, 'Okay, I'm at the top table, and I'm actually sat here comfortably, and overshadowed the people that were meant to be better than me.'
"It's a great confidence boost."
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Martin Keown was equally gushing about Saka, praising the winger for making such a huge impact, having only recently come back from injury.
"You look at the context we put it into, without a striker," he said. "Havertz injured, Jesus out, Saka 101 days or so to get him back. He comes back just in time, just two weeks ago, and he's performing like this, it's incredible.
"But the team performance really stood out, the low-block. The two wingers. I think Martinelli and Saka deserve a big mention, with the tenure for Arteta, they really have stood up for him, and tonight it was fitting that they scored the two goals.
"There's some way to go, PSG next, let's bring it on. But they're a very healthy team at the moment. So Arsenal will go again, they need to secure the Premier League to get back here again next year, but this is a fantastic night for them."
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'Cue the delirium' - Saka puts Arsenal ahead in Madrid
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Arsenal outplayed the defending champions thoroughly over two games, and it was a series in which both Saka and Declan Rice firmly and fully cemented themselves as world-class players.
Arteta's side dispatched PSG 2-0 earlier in the season in the league phase, but the Parisians have risen anew since October, emerging as perhaps the competition favourites now.
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