Bukayo Saka: Arsenal 'not scared' of Premier League title race pressure and 'ready to compete for every trophy'
Published 19/12/2024 at 13:31 GMT
Arsenal made progress in their bid to win their first piece of silverware since 2020 when they beat Crystal Palace to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Bukayo Saka came off the bench to grab an assist and the winger has said that his club are "ready to compete for every trophy". The Gunners are third in the Premier League and Saka insisted that they are "not scared" of the title race pressure.
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Bukayo Saka has insisted that Arsenal are not afraid of another Premier League title challenge or the pressure that comes with it, with The Gunners "ready to compete for every trophy".
Mikel Arteta's side have endured a patchy start to their league campaign and sit third in the table behind leaders Liverpool and in-form Chelsea, six points adrift of Arne Slot's outfit.
In Europe, they are third in the inaugural UEFA Champions League table and look set for an automatic route to the last 16, while they have also booked their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Despite not losing in their last nine games across all competitions, Arsenal have failed to win their last two league matches with draws against Fulham and Everton, lightly denting their title challenge.
But after narrowly missing out to Manchester City last season and challenging Pep Guardiola's side the term before that, England superstar Saka says the club are "not scared" to compete for their first league title in 20 years.
"The last two seasons we've competed for the league and come very close," the 23-year-old told BBC Sport.
"We're also back in the Champions League, we have some experience there now, so we feel we're ready to compete for every trophy.
"We really want to take that next step and try to win something."
Past failures 'extra fuel' in search for success
Not only have Saka and Arsenal come close to ending the club's barren run for a Premier League title, but the winger twice lost back-to-back UEFA European Championship finals with England.
And after coming close both domestically and on the international stage, Saka is using his past failures as fuel to get Arsenal over the line this season.
"It's horrible, I'll be honest," Saka admitted to missing out on the biggest trophies.
"It's just that extra fuel for me and extra motivation. I want to get it over the line this season and try to lift the trophy, for sure.
"You work the whole season and you're so close, you've literally got one hand on the trophy, you're in the final or you're right there to win the Premier League, or whatever trophy you're competing for that season, and then you don't win it.
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"It's like the whole year's work and nothing to show for it.
"I know you can be proud of the season and evolution and development, but that's why more than ever we want to take the next step and win."
Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, when they could close the gap at the top of the table to three points.
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