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Bukayo Saka - from a sinner to indispensable factor

Bukayo Saka, who was once considered a newcomer to the England national team during the EURO 2020 final, is gradually becoming an indispensable player for both the England national team and Arsenal.
Leey
By: Leey

During England's first match of the EURO 2024 qualifying campaign, the most talked-about name was Harry Kane, the captain and star player of the Three Lions. However, in their next match, the center of attention was on Bukayo Saka, who is considered the team's second-best and most significant player.

Indispensable Gentleman of England national football team

Bukayo Saka's rapid progress

Not long ago, Bukayo Saka was just one of many talented players competing for a spot in Gareth Southgate's squad. Remember that EURO 2020 took place less than two years ago. Phil Foden started in the first two group stage games, Jadon Sancho started in the quarter-final against Ukraine, and Mason Mount started in the final. However, it was Saka who made the biggest impression out of all these players.

Just six months ago, in the EURO final rematch against Italy in the Nations League in Milan, Saka was forced to play as a left-back in a 3-5-2 formation, a position that seemed to only make sense on paper, not in reality.

But Southgate quickly rectified that experiment. He put Saka back in his natural position as part of the three-man attack in the 2022 World Cup, where he started every game except for the final group stage match against Wales, where England only needed a draw to qualify for the knockout round.

Bukayo Saka scored two goals in the opening game's 6-2 victory over Iran

Saka scored two goals in the opening game's 6-2 victory over Iran - one of which was a superb strike - and another against Senegal in the round of 16. He only played less convincingly in the defeat to France in the quarter-finals. It was an unforgettable performance where Saka, despite his efforts, still couldn't leave a lasting impression.

The ultimate proof of Saka's success is that the debate over his role on England's right-wing has been put to rest.

Saka's contribution in EURO 2024 Qualification

Despite being in the early stages of his career with the England team, Bukayo Saka has already made a significant impact. He made his debut less than three years ago and has only played on the international stage for almost two years. However, he has become an essential player in Gareth Southgate's squad, behind only Harry Kane in terms of importance, due to his versatility, sharpness, and speed.

This was evident in England's match against Ukraine at Wembley. While Sunday belonged to Kane, who was awarded the Golden Boot for breaking the England scoring record after his goal against Italy, it was Saka who shone in the following match. He was too fast, too skillful, too precise, and a constant threat to the Ukrainian players in every situation. Saka scored both goals in a 2-0 win, making him the star of the match and helping England to maintain their lead in the EURO 2024 qualifying round.

Saka showed excelelnt form in the match against Ukraine

Despite his excellent form, Bukayo Saka has rarely been as effective and decisive as he was in the match against Ukraine. The first goal was a thing of beauty: Kane dropped back and passed the ball to Saka, who made a superb cut-in move and outpaced Mykhailo Mudryk. He then delivered a stunning left-footed cross that found captain Harry Kane's position, and Kane easily scored by outmaneuvering Oleksandr Karavaev.

It was a special combination, but the goal that Saka scored just three minutes later was a true masterpiece. He received the ball just outside the box, opened his body wide, and unleashed a confident left-footed shot into the far corner of the net. It was the kind of goal every winger dreams of scoring and displayed Saka's perfect vision and great confidence.

He even scored another goal from a free-kick after being fouled by Ruslan Malinovskyi. But even without that, this was still one of Saka's best performances in an England national team shirt.

Bukayo Saka's role in England's squad

Bukayo Saka is the perfect fit for Gareth Southgate's vision of a right-wing attacking player. The role of a modern winger is multifaceted - they are expected to lead the attack for most of the game (more than half of England's first-half attacks in the match against Ukraine came from Saka's side of the pitch), score crucial goals by cutting inside, defend with responsibility and press high to prevent counter-attacks.

Saka executed all of these tasks perfectly, covering a vast area of the pitch on the right flank, with two of his goals coming from his signature cutting in from the wing. Considering his performance in this role alone, Saka could easily be considered the best player in the Premier League this season.

Saka's place in the squad for the next matches against Malta and North Macedonia is almost certain, barring any injuries. The competition for the left-wing position is also intense, with Raheem Sterling being replaced by James Maddison in the previous match and Jack Grealish being given a chance in Napoli. In the last World Cup, the left-wing position was also alternated between Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford. With five players vying for a starting spot, there are only 15 months left until the EURO 2024 final in Germany. With such a strong squad, the future looks bright for the British team's journey towards glory.

Arsenal's precious gem 

For many years, there have been many examples of young and talented English players shining for their club but struggling to replicate that form for the national team, and vice versa. However, Saka seems to be an exception. He is an indispensable factor in helping Arsenal top the league, embodying everything that makes them an exciting team: speed, bravery, resilience, and fearless enthusiasm.

Saka is progressing rapidly with a huge contribution to Arsenal, becoming the second most valuable English footballer.

"If there's a better player than Bukayo Saka at the moment, it can only be Lionel Messi," former Arsenal defender Tony Adams praised the young star. Adams' comments, a former Arsenal player, sparked controversy, but he has his reasons.

Saka is in the best season of his career, with a significant impact helping Arsenal dominate the top spot in the Premier League. As of now, Saka has scored 12 goals in the Premier League. Up to 7 of his goals are the first ones in the game for the Gunners.

The influence of the 21-year-old London-born player is also reflected in 10 decisive assists. Saka is currently the only player in the top-flight of English football to surpass the 10-goal and 10-assist mark.

Bukayo Saka is also Arsenal's precious gem 

Recently, Transfermarkt rated Saka's remarkable progress with a value of 110 million euros. This means his value has increased by 40 million euros since the start of the 2022-23 season, up 20 million euros from the start of the 2022 World Cup.

Transfermarkt's valuation is based on the player's match contribution, overall performance, including media influence and contract length.

Saka's contract with Arsenal ends in June 2024. Negotiations for an extension are underway, and if he signs a new contract, his value is expected to increase.

According to Transfermarkt, Saka is currently second in the Premier League, only behind Erling Haaland, who is valued at 170 million euros. Saka has become Arsenal's most expensive player, number one in the world for right-wingers and players born in 2001. In addition, Saka has become the second most valuable English footballer after Jude Bellingham (120), ranking fifth in the world for all positions.

Saka's contribution to Arsenal's Premier League title chances exceeds expectations. He averages 0.45 goals and 0.37 assists per 90 minutes.

Saka's impressive form is solidifying his crucial role in both his club and national team. As he continues to excel, there is a growing expectation that he will become a key player and the future star of his team. 

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Leey
Written by: Leey
Leey is the reporter for Betimate. She currently has a series of articles about football. She specializes in researching football data to come up with evaluations about the tournament and predictions about the matches.

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