Arsenal have the ‘next Maradona’

Carlo Garganese

• 9 Oct 2024 17:00 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka can become like Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona in the years to come.

Those were the words of former Newcastle, Man City and Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, who believes that Saka will develop into an elite player.

There has been a big debate in England in recent weeks over whether Saka can be described as a world-class player.

And Given has rather surprisingly gone as far as to compare Saka’s trajectory to legends of the game such as Messi and Maradona.

What did Given say?

“We’re all agreeing he’s one of the best players in the Premier League, and there’s this conversation about whether he’s world-class or is he not,” Given said.

“He’s only 23, he has years ahead of him. When you talk world class you’re talking about Ronaldo, Messi, Maradona, Pele, players of years gone by.

“I don’t think Saka can’t be that in years to come if he picks up trophies, wins the Premier League with Arsenal, wins the World Cup for England, he’s world-class then, because he gets his hands on those trophies.”

Saka at Arsenal

Saka joined Arsenal as a seven-year-old in 2008 and came through the youth academy at the club.

He made his debut in 2018 and soon established himself as a key player in the first team.

The 23-year-old Saka has since gone on to make 236 appearances for Arsenal’s first team, scoring 61 goals.

He has won an FA Cup and two Community Shields and played a key role in the successive second place finishes in the Premier League in 2023 and 2024.

He has also won 42 caps for England, scoring 12 goals and is considered one of the best young players in his position in the world.

He starred for England at World Cup 2022 and Euro 2024, and also played at Euro 2020 - twice getting runners-up medals at the European Championship.