Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has set his sights on challenging one of his star players, Bukayo Saka, to reach new heights in his career. Arteta believes that Saka has the potential to become an even better player, to the point of matching the goal-scoring prowess of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, renowned for his incredible scoring ability, achieved a remarkable 25 goals in his final season with Manchester United in 2008-09. In comparison, England star Saka currently boasts 16 goals and 13 assists to his name, including an impressive seven goals in his last five Premier League games. When questioned about Saka’s potential to reach Ronaldo’s 25-season total, Arteta expressed, “I hope he is doing that, because he can become much better. I think he can get in better positions still. His finishing, especially with certain surfaces, has to improve and his timing as well. So he can do better.”
Despite experiencing a goal drought with just one goal in 11 games during October and November, Saka is now on a hot streak. Arteta further emphasized, “Players have moments. You can analyse just the attacking stats or the goals or assists. Then you make the judgement because of that, that’s it. But his overall play, contribution and the way he was affecting the game was still really high. Is he now being more efficient? The answer is yes. The impact he’s had in the last seven or eight games has been really good. I’m really happy to have a player in form.”
Additionally, with the return of Thomas Partey to the squad to face Sheffield United, Arteta expressed his welcome of facing tough selection decisions as the squad nears full strength. He stated, “Yes – but having that option as well. And, first of all, putting always the intention of what is the best way to hurt this opponent, and what is the best line-up to give us the best chance to win the game. Then there is always the difficulty of putting one player on the bench over starting another, but I think we are going to have a lot of time and a lot of minutes for players in the next three months.”
In summary, Mikel Arteta’s challenge to Bukayo Saka to strive for greatness is a testament to the high expectations set for Arsenal’s rising star. Saka’s recent impressive form and goal-scoring abilities have caught the eye of his manager, who sees his potential as limitless. As the team gears up for the challenges ahead, Arteta’s focus on nurturing and pushing his players to excel reflects a commitment to success for the squad.