Former Gunner claims Bukayo Saka is better than 99% of players at their best | OneFootball

Hector Bellerin believes Bukayo Saka isn’t yet in his prime, but that he’s already better than 99% of players in their best years.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal controls the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on October 05, 2024. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin believes that the Gunners are still a few years away from their best with their current squad, and he expects star winger Bukayo Saka to get even better in the coming seasons.

“It’s crazy to say that Bukayo Saka might be a few years away from his prime still,” Bellerin told TNT Sports. “He’s not in his prime and he’s probably already better than 99% of players at their prime.

“I was part of the squad when he started to train with the first-team and you see how he’s improved, how he enjoys football.

“He’s a reference not just at Arsenal level but at country level. Mate, those things, for me, are just a massive prize and I become very emotional.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Saka certainly does appear to be getting better with each passing campaign. In goalscoring terms, at least, the player has scored more goals for Arsenal each season than he did in the last:

The winger already has three goals this season, and that’s on top of the seven goals he’s assisted in his first 10 games of 2024/25.

LONDON, ENGLAND: The Premier League captain’s armband, seen worn on the arm of Bukayo Saka of Arsenal (obscured) during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City FC at Emirates Stadium on September 28, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

In the absence of the injured Martin Odegaard, Saka has really stepped up to dictate the play on the right-hand side, and nowhere was that more evident than in his own absence against Bournemouth at the weekend.

The Gunners struggled to create clear chances even before going down to 10 men, and ended up losing 2-0 without their star man.

The hope is that he’ll be back available for a Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk and a top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool this week.