Thierry Henry shares very honest Bukayo Saka doubts after Arsenal beat PSG

Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has expressed his surprise at the rapid rise of Bukayo Saka, who has emerged as a pivotal figure for the north London outfit.

Originating from the esteemed Hale End academy, Saka has climbed the ranks to become an instrumental force in the Arsenal first team. His journey with the Gunners kicked off when he was seven years old, culminating in his first-team debut in 2018.

Boasting upward of 230 appearances and 60 goals for Arsenal’s senior squad, not to mention winning the FA Cup and securing his spot in the England national team, Saka’s accomplishments have caught the attention of many, including Henry, who admitted to underestimating the young talent.

While speaking on CBS Sports, Henry recounted: “I saw him at the academy and I didn’t think he would be that good, I’ll be honest with you. But when you work, you have that work ethic, you have a good family behind you, cause I know the family, he is clever, he works well.

“I really saw a player reaching his level, because right now he is at a level, hard to arrive. He has been there for almost three years if I am being honest.”

Further delving into what makes Saka such an impressive figure on the pitch, Henry added: “At the European Championship (with England) they are asking him to play wing-back, he plays wing-back.

“He goes and defends for his right-back, he goes wide, he goes left, he goes behind, he does everything without complaining. He plays every single game.”

“He played in the Carabao Cup, he played after the World Cup straight away in the first round of the FA Cup. It will be a dream for a full-back to have a guy like that in front of you, defending like that, going on the counter, he makes the job easier for everybody.”

Saka, 23, had his most productive season in front of goal last campaign, smashing in 20 goals across all competitions and serving up 14 assists. The England international has kicked off the current season in electrifying fashion, bagging two goals and five assists already.

He most recently scored in the victory against PSG in the Champions League. And he’ll be desperate to keep up his fine form in the upcoming Premier League clash against Southampton at the Emirates.

Ahead of the match, Saka conveyed cautious optimism about Arsenal’s prospects of clinching the Premier League title: “I don’t want to put too much pressure on us, but I do think this is the year.

“We have been close for the past two years and we are getting closer, but, yes, hopefully this will be the year. There is a lot of hunger in my belly. In previous years we have finished runners-up, but that spirit in me is that I want to win this season and I believe in myself a lot.”