It’s the question that’s been on everyone’s lips since Manchester United legend and pundit Rio Ferdinand poked the bear that is Arsenal fans online with his inflammatory comments about their homegrown hero: Is Bukayo Saka world-class?
For what it’s worth, Ferdinand has made his stance crystal clear: “Not yet,” he said. “Listen, I think Saka’s been unreal. I actually think he needs a bit of a rest, so many games for a young kid. But I think, it’s almost like what is world-class? He hasn’t done it in the Champions League, has he? I’m talking in the nitty-gritty stages. Saka’s top, don’t get me wrong. He’s not world-class yet.”
But where does the truth lie? The discussion over who is or isn’t ‘world-class’ can be nuanced and exhausting, especially given it isn’t something tangible, but GOAL has tried to find Saka’s place in the debate by rating his individual attributes…
Considering he is a wide player who is not necessarily relied upon for his scoring ability, it is difficult to understate Saka’s honed prowess in front of goal. His tally has been steadily increasing season on season since his first-team breakthrough in 2019-20, and he has already surpassed his total for 2022-23 with three months remaining of the current campaign.
He oozes confidence in front of goal now, producing a host of emphatic finishes worthy of a seasoned marksman, while also showing a knack for popping up at the back post to poach an Inzaghi-esque tap-in. Indeed, he is invaluable to head coach Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, picking up the mantle when the likes of Gabriel Jesus or Gabriel Martinelli haven’t been firing.
A remarkable run since the end of January has seen him net seven times in just five league games, becoming the first English player to score in five consecutive Premier League matches for Arsenal since Ian Wright 30 years ago. Esteemed goal-scoring company.
If he continues at this rate, with the likelihood that he will comfortably hit the 20-goal mark across all competitions this season, Saka will surely be among the club’s record marksmen come the end of his career – the hallmark of a truly world-class goal-scorer.
This is potentially the aspect of Saka’s game that sparks so much debate – and indeed there is the question of whether it even matters when all is said and done. However, despite being very, very gifted, Saka is not as easy on the eye as the seamless technique of the likes of Vinicius Jr, Leroy Sane or, of course, Lionel Messi.
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But we all know being polished on the ball does not necessarily make you more productive or effective. There are a host of players past and present who are considered world-class despite not possessing balletic, Zinedine Zidane-esque touch and motion, with Mohamed Salah perhaps tantamount among them.
It may count for little statistically, but in the eyes of ‘Football Twitter’, appearances count for a lot, and that counts against Saka here.
It is difficult to fault Saka’s creativity, with his assist numbers following a similarly upward trajectory to his goals over the years. He is sure to add to the 13 he has at this stage of 2023-24.
He has matched and indeed surpassed some of his illustrious peers in that regard this season, such as Salah and Vinicius, ranking in the 90th percentile for assists per 90 minutes and the 93rd percentile for expected assists (xAG) per 90 minutes in the Premier League
He is adept at cutting inside and combining with the likes of Martin Odegaard and Jesus to devastating effect, playing 60 key passes in the league, while he has made 15 goal-creating actions in his quest to carve out opportunities for his team-mates.
However, the majority of Saka’s creative contributions do not come from crosses. Although he has picked up a couple of assists from his deliveries in open play in 2023-24, his approach is usually more direct and aggressive, as he either drives to the byline and pulls back a low pass or exchanges intricate passes with his team-mates.
That is reflected in his statistics; the 22-year-old has a 23 percent cross completion rate in the Premier League, making just 10 successful crosses into the penalty area so far this season – placing him 18th the the top-flight in that metric.
Although he does take corner kicks for the Gunners, his open-play deliveries are perhaps a weapon he could use more to his advantage.
His technique may not be to everyone’s taste, but Saka’s game is built upon his explosive dribbling ability, with those actions usually the precursor to some form of contribution in the final third. Lightning quick, he uses his acceleration to burst away from his man and can comfortably bypass two defenders if they converge on him, either by manipulating the ball or his body.
Despite his diminutive 5’8 frame, the England international is deceptively strong, too – often bouncing off challenges and using his physicality to squirm out of the tightest of spaces. And, despite moving at pace, his ability to decelerate and compose himself in goal-scoring positions is second to none, with his chop-backs yielding goals on multiple occasions in 2023-24 as he sends defenders flying.
Showboating and skills may not be a big part of his game, but Saka doesn’t have to rely on trickery when he is just so good at beating his man with movement and pace.
And so it is in the balance. But what is it that makes a truly world-class player world-class? What sets them apart as a cut above the rest? The key is the ability to perform at the highest level week in, week out.
It is undeniable that Saka has shown all the hallmarks of a world-class talent over the last seven Premier League games, as he has popped up to make telling contributions in each – including back-to-back braces in the consecutive maulings of West Ham and Burnley.
However, there have been periods this season where Saka has been unable to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and single-handedly haul Arsenal to victory. He notably struggled to make his mark during the Gunners’ difficult festive period, with a string of poor results potentially costing them the league title when all is said and done.
Indeed, although his manager knows Saka is already exceptional, Arteta believes he can do more, too: “Wingers with that level of consistency and numbers at his age is something really strange to find. But it is not a coincidence when you look at him every single day – the way he trains, the way he applies himself, the qualities that he has and he can do more.”
Saka is becoming the man Arsenal can count on, but it is in the moments when the going gets tough that he must find another level.
Ferdinand pointed to Saka’s inexperience at the highest level of European football in his takedown of the winger’s ability, saying: “He hasn’t done it in the Champions League, has he? I’m talking in the nitty-gritty stages.”
It’s a pretty unfair assessment, given Saka is playing in the competition for the very first time this season. Prior to 2023-24, the last time Arsenal qualified for Europe’s elite club competition was way back in 2016-17, long before Saka had made his first-team debut.
The Manchester United legend-turned-pundit has also conveniently forgotten Saka’s international pedigree, with the winger playing a key role as England reached the Euro 2020 final on home soil, although he heartbreakingly missed the decisive penalty at Wembley against Italy. He was even more influential at the 2022 World Cup, making four goal contributions in four games for the Three Lions before their quarter-final exit.
Ferdinand’s point is valid, however, in that Saka has not had a chance to do it in the Champions League. And, more importantly, he has only managed to get his hands on one piece of major silverware so far, in the form of the FA Cup in 2020.
It is a close run thing, but Ferdinand is arguably in the right as things stand. He is also justified in his assessment that Saka is well on his way to becoming world-class. Even Arteta has admitted as much in the past, saying in November: “He plays in the World Cup and plays for the national team so I don’t know what that means, but he is a top, top player that’s for sure.”
At the age of 22, few players in the history of the game have held that status, other than those otherworldly talents who become household names from the moment they make their senior bows.
That said, few players are or have been at Saka’s level at such an early stage in their careers. He has been building and building and building, with his incredible progress clear for all to see. The scary thing is that he is still a good three to four years short of his peak. It will be thrilling to witness the heights he can reach – sit back and enjoy the show!
