Bukayo Saka has named the best team that Arsenal has faced this season, with Premier League champion Liverpool snubbed. Instead, the England ace picked another side.
Having faced PSG in the Champions League this week, losing 1-0 at home thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s goal, Saka picked out the Ligue 1 leader as the best team the Gunners have come up against. “100 per cent, they were like a different team,” Saka told Sky Sports, referencing the fact that the Parisiens are much improved from when Arsenal beat them in the group phase.
“I know they only changed two players from the line-up against us previously but how much cohesion they have, how they flow, how they move the ball they were a lot better,” Saka said. “They impressed me, to be fair.”
Arsenal has never won the Champions League before and will have to win in Paris to reach the final. Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli will have to step up.
“I would say so, probably yes,” Saka added when pushed on whether PSG was the best team Arsenal has played.
“They have a lot of threat up at the top end of the pitch, and I think in the midfield as well, they keep the ball really well and try and make you run. I don’t think anyone likes to run if I’m honest.”
(Image: Getty Images)
PSG is a very different team now to the one of the last few years ago. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have moved on, with younger players including Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola.
Nuno Mendes is arguably the best left-back in the world at the moment and he was a tough opponent for Saka. “It was a good battle,” Saka added. “He’s a top full-back; he’s so quick. I enjoy those battles and look forward to going against next week.”
PSG has Strasbourg today and is 20 points clear in the French top flight. Arsenal, meanwhile, is taking on Bournemouth in the Premier League as it looks to confirm Champions League soccer for next season.
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Liverpool.com says: PSG is definitely the best team that Liverpool has played this season. From here, it should make the Champions League final in Munich and would probably be the favorite against either Inter Milan or Barcelona.
To have changed so quickly from a team of superstars that never really gelled to a really well-oiled unit is very impressive work. Luis Enrique should get a lot of credit for his part in that.
At the same time, though, Liverpool only lost on penalties. With the Premier League title already wrapped up, the Reds could have been fighting on another front had the spot kicks gone slightly differently.
