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Martin Keown believes that Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is England’s best attacking option at the moment.
THE LOWDOWN: IMPORTANT PLAYER
A graduate of the Gunners’ academy, Saka has grown to become a star for club and country. His performances have been superb and his stock has kept rising since he first burst onto the scene in 2018.
The 21-year-old has arguably been Arsenal’s best player in the past two seasons and looks like he is on that path once again in the current campaign. He has four goals and four assists in the Premier League and was crucial to Arsenal’s win over PSV in the Europa League on Thursday.
His latest performance wowed former Arsenal defender Keown, who has made a bold claim about the youngster.
THE LATEST: KEOWN’S CLAIM
The 56-year-old believes that Saka is Gareth Southgate’s best option in the wide attacking areas.
Speaking on punditry duty with BT Sport on Thursday night, Keown claimed that Saka should ‘be the one that (Gareth) Southgate turns to’ at the World Cup.
The three-time Premier League winner said of the Arsenal gem: “We’ve got a World Cup coming up and I just feel now that he’s got to be the one that Southgate turns to in that position.
“He’s tough. He’ll keep coming back for more – there’s a huge game again at the weekend.
‘Give him the rub downs, the massage, the right diet and prepare him nicely for the weekend, because there’s a huge game coming up there.”
THE VERDICT: BASIC TRUTH
Saka is arguably the most in-form winger in the current England squad, and his importance and value can’t be overstated. Indeed, it is telling that last month he was named England men’s Player of the Year for his performances in the 2021/22 campaign.
If Southgate and the England management team are serious about having a fine tournament in Qatar, the 21-year-old must have a crucial role to play and deserves a starting berth for the Three Lions’ opener against Iran in 30 days’ time.
