Bukayo Saka’s credentials in big games cannot be called into question but the Arsenal superstar was not at his best against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
As Arsenal lost 1-0 to PSG at the Emirates Stadium, perhaps the home fans would have been expecting more from their star man on the night.
But Bukayo Saka is only human and he cannot always be the man to carry his boyhood club’s pressure and expectations on his shoulders.
The French media felt Saka was quiet against PSG as well despite trying his level-best to make things happen.
Peter Schmeichel had his say on the Englishman’s latest outing as he was watching him live in the flesh.
Peter Schmeichel says Bukayo Saka looked ‘tired’ during Arsenal vs PSG
Schmeichel felt Saka was one of the many big-hitters for Arsenal who did not turn up on the night, which ultimately led to them losing to PSG.
However, Peter Schmeichel also believes that Saka looked exhausted against PSG which potentially explains why the visitors managed to nullify Arsenal’s danger-man.
The Manchester United legend told CBS Sports: “But do you [Anita Jones] think it’s just that because I have a feeling that there was too many of the big players not turning up today.”
“I thought Saka was very, very quiet.”
Peter Schmeichel felt Saka barely laid a glove on PSG left-back Nuno Mendes for Arsenal as well: “Well, it was just a little bit of both [Saka having an off day and PSG keeping him quiet], a little bit of both. He just looked a little bit tired if I’m honest. When he got the opportunities to actually challenge [Nuno] Mendes, he just didn’t have that extra bit of Saka magic we’ve seen before.”
Did Bukayo Saka play against PSG with an injury?
It is hard to agree with the retired goalkeeper’s verdict on the 23-year-old’s display.
However, as Saka’s ankle was being treated against Ipswich after Leif Davis was sent off for fouling him, he was receiving treatment from Simon Murphy, the Medical Director of Physiotherapy at Arsenal.
After the challenge, the Gunners poster-boy’s ankle and Achilles were strapped while quite a lot of ice was applied to ease the pain.
As a result, Saka may have found it difficult to play his natural game against PSG and why Peter Schmeichel could well have raised a fair point after watching Arsenal’s latest defeat.
Saka is one of Arsenal’s finest players and knowing how crucial he will be in the second leg, Mikel Arteta might well decide to rest him against AFC Bournemouth on the weekend.
But in case he is unfit to start, Ousmane Dembele’s hamstring injury that could also rule the Frenchman out would not be too much of a worry for Luis Enrique at the Parc des Princes.
