Bukayo Saka has revealed the one player that consistently poses the greatest challenge to him.
Still just 22, the Arsenal star has enshrined himself as an integral component for both club and country since making his debut in 2018.
A defensive injury crisis gave Saka his first taste of first-team football in North London as he spent much of his first season playing first-team football deployed at left-back by Mikel Arteta.
However, once given the chance to demonstrate his sublime s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s going forward Saka quickly became a mainstay of the Gunners’ attack.
Across 35 Premier League starts last season Saka scored 16 goals and notched a further nine assists as Arteta’s side took the Premier League title race down to the final day.
Bukayo Saka has named the one player he ranks as his toughest opponent on the pitch
The Arsenal star revealed Manchester City stalwart Kyle Walker provides a ‘tough challenge’
The pair have started together on England’s right flank at Euro 2024 but have yet to reach their combined potential
It is perhaps only fitting then that the player Saka selected as his toughest opponent just happens to star for the team that pipped them to the post in May.
‘I think Kyle Walker is definitely up there,’ Saka told talkSPORT when quizzed on his toughest challenger.
‘If you ask most wingers, coming up against him is a very tough challenge but now most of the time he’s playing behind me so it’s nice to have that confidence behind you. With someone so strong like that, I feel free to attack.’
Despite both coming off the back of incredible domestic campaigns and possessing the kind of pace to give opposition players nightmares, Saka and Walker have so far failed to reach a level commensurate to the sum of their collective parts at Euro 2024.
While Gareth Southgate’s side have maintained a strong defensive record despite pre-tournament concerns, a lacking of attacking impetus was repeatedly identified across three group stage fixtures.
Nevertheless, England topped their group without tasting defeat to set up a round of 16 clash with Slovakia on Sunday.
‘He’s always supported me and trusted me and played me in a lot of big games so I appreciate that and I know a lot of the boys feel the same.’ Saka said of Southgate.
‘We’ll just focus on trying to win the next game.’
An athlete more than familiar with the weight of expectations placed on sporting stars, Anthony Joshua insisted the team need to block out the negative comments and focus on their game.
‘Of course they’re taking stick, that’s what people do. So forget the stick, it is what it is, go out there and win it!’ AJ told IFL TV.
Saka also hailed England boss Gareth Southgate despite England’s difficult start to the tournament
Heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua implored England to block out the negativity as they look to secure glory in Germany
‘Take the stick, laugh last. The England team need to be like “You know what? We’re going to laugh last!”. Come on England!’
Reacting to the former heavyweight champion’s comments Saka said: ‘I agree with him. I think that’s a great comment and I hope we laugh last.’
