Arsenal are one of the best teams in Europe right now.
The Gunners have made it into the semi-finals of the Champions League, and many people feel they’ve got a good chance of going all the way.
Mikel Arteta’s side produced two fantastic displays against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, and many of Arsenal’s players looked superior to their counterparts on the opposite side.
Tony Cascarino was particularly impressed by one Arsenal star against the Galacticos.
Tony Cascarino says he would take Arsenal star Bukayo Saka over Vinicius Junior
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka was magnificent in the two legs against Real Madrid.
The England international had missed over three months of football due to a hamstring injury he suffered just before Christmas.
He made two substitute appearances in the Premier League before starting for the first time in 2025 against Real Madrid. He was absolutely incredible in that game.
The likes of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo were all nowhere near the Arsenal number seven’s level – neither at the Emirates nor at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Cascarino was blown away by Saka, so much so that he would take the Arsenal man over Vinicius now.
He said on talkSPORT: “Bukayo Saka has improved enormously. And his hunger and desire – all what I criticise Mbappe for not doing – Saka gives you that. I totally agree that he is an improving player and there’s more to come.
“I think Vinicius Junior has been affected by Mbappe, and I think he has affected Rodrygo as well, who is a young player and is incredibly good. Lewis-Skelly did an amazing job on Rodrygo, let’s not forget about that.
“Vinicius Jr – look at Saka, look at how hard he works, look at the effect he is having on defenders, and he was the standout feature of why Arsenal got through. And he has come off a big, long, bad injury.
“So, at the moment, if you said to me ‘would you take Vinicius Jr or Saka?’ I would say Saka!”
Bukayo Saka vs Vinicius Jr stats in 2024/25 compared
Saka and Vinicius are among the best wide players in world football.
The Real Madrid superstar was close to winning the Ballon d’Or last year and played a big part in his side’s success. Saka, on the other hand, has been the main man in Arsenal’s rebuild.
But, who has had a better 2024/25 season?
| Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes per goal or assist | |
| Vinicius Junior | 48 | 20 | 14 | 161.33 |
| Bukayo Saka | 31 | 11 | 14 | 86.48 |
Despite playing 17 more games in all competitions this season, Vinicius has the same number of assists as Saka and has only scored nine more goals.
The Arsenal man averages a direct goal contribution every 86.48 minutes, while Vinicius has taken 161.33 minutes to do the same this term.
Cascarino is right, if the choice is between Saka and Vinicius right now, the Arsenal number seven is the right pick.
