"HE'S NOT TOP FIVE!" Jermaine Pennant EXPLAINS why Bukayo Saka is NOT a top 5 winger in the world!

talkSPORT

Jermaine Pennant explains why Bukayo Saka is not a top-five winger in the world

The clip debates where Bukayo Saka ranks among the world's best wingers. Darren Bent defends Saka against recent criticism, while Jermaine Pennant argues Saka is world-class but not top five, mainly because his goal and assist output falls short of the names he lists. The host says the call is close and Saka could enter the conversation with better numbers.

Natalie Sawyer & former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant react to recent criticism of Bukayo Saka, with Pennant explaining why he doesn't think the Arsenal star is one of the top five wingers in world football right now. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague

Transcript

But right now, let's chat Bio Saka, shall we? He's been subjected to a bit of criticism for his performances for club and country in recent weeks. And that's despite netting four times this season, including against Leil in the Champions League in midweek and twice for England against Croatia in the Nations League during the international break. So, what level is he playing at? Do his stats stack up? The other top wingers in world football against him, I should say. Um before we get Jermaine's thoughts on him on drive the former Premier League striker and Arsenal fan Darren Ben says he's not having criticism of Saka this season. >> Last night was was a clear indication about how his levels. So Madwei obviously started struggled again >> offered any I know I know he had a lot of people going not waxing lyrical but I mean the pass to to Yuri Timber for his goal. Yeah. I mean it was a passing side. It was the touch and the finish which was the special part about that goal but Madwe not good enough. not going, not really creating anything. Saka comes on is an instant impact. But I think a lot of the work that Saka does as well goes unnoticed because the amount of times Arsenal players will give him the ball when he's got two people on his back and he manages to hold on to it, hold someone off and then last minute find the pass. >> So that's what Dan Bent had to say obviously full of praise for him. And when you look back even just to that Le game, >> his introduction alongside Martin Erdigard and Kai Havitz were certainly game changers that that led to that 3-0 victory. Where do you stand on this whole debate of Malaya Saka? >> For one moment, I do not think that Saka is not world class. Yes, he is. He is an elite player, elite. >> World class in your eyes. >> Is world class. But if we're talking about top five, he doesn't get in my top five worldass wingers. >> Okay. Who does? >> It would be obviously it's got numbers. You go Moella world class. That's an elite worldass winger. >> Okay. >> You've got Venicia Jr. Lemau Dembele. You can even throw in Rafinia. Dembele is a balandor. >> You haven't even put Cameron Skellier in there. >> Well, if anyone out there says that Ket Skele is not better than Sacka, then I think they would be lying to themselves. Um, >> okay. >> But these are all world class players I'm talking about. But if we're going to go in order, he doesn't fit in that top five. Out of those players I've mentioned, he will be six. And not only that, it's just on the numbers as well. Over the numbers, >> he's ranked six out of all them within goals scored, assist goals and assists, contributions, he's ranked lowest in all six of those players. Um, I know in some ways Mo Salah goes against what I'm about to say, but can we have the argument, and you said it earlier on as well when we were talking about the levels of the Premier League in comparison to other leagues? Can that be a factor as to why Saka doesn't maybe make the top five? Let's not forget he is a player that many teams will double up on. They'll they know he's the danger man potentially in this Arsenal team. Therefore, that's why they try to restrict anything that he can do on a pitch. Yeah, that that does play a part. The Premier League is a lot difficult, but the last two seasons he struggled to get over double figure double figures goals. >> He has had injuries. >> I know, but he still played 31 games. So to get only seven goals and then six goals. Listen, he's a world class player. I'm not taking that away from him because I know I'm going to get pelted. He's better than you. I'm not saying he's not. I'm not. Yes, he is. Always will be. He's a fantastic talent. And I think when you're looking at world, he is world class, but when I'm talking about a top five, if the argument is, is he just world class? Yes. But is he one of the best swingers in the thingy? No. Is he in your top five? No. >> Okay. So, it's numbers for you don't stack up. That's why he doesn't feature. If he was to get consistent numbers, what kind of consistent numbers you talking about? >> Like, well, if Harry Kane wasn't getting the consistent numbers as he was, would he be a world class striker? >> No. >> They do play a part. You can't have a world class striker who's is not getting double figures. >> Well, that's what you base your top five on, numbers. >> Well, yeah. Like, he's >> So, but what what I'm saying is in terms of goals scored, how many do you think he should be getting per season? You already highlighted last season he got seven goals uh in the Premier League. >> Yeah. Is as a worldass winger to to compete with the European best who I've just mentioned, he's got to be getting in the double figure bracket. He has to be >> because that's what they do season after season regardless of what league you're in. I think he has to there is some games where he goes missing and the reason why there's noise about it because his performances have been slacking >> right >> and the over the last four seasons they have been declining where you look at le is on a different trajectory he's gone from 10 22 to 27 goals sack has gone 16 15 12 and 10 >> they there I mean I think Arteta has spoken about this season about the potential interchanging roles that he's going to have with Kai Havitz he's sort of suggested that he wants to see Saka more in the box in between the posts being a bit more of a predator in front of goal. >> That will obviously add to his numbers. That will change the the the discussion on him obviously. >> Absolutely. Like we look at wingers now as more or less not strikers but as a weapon of scoring goals. The days of my days where it's about getting crosses getting to the by line, putting crosses in the box for your big men, they're gone. Wingers now have to be this that second guy who who's scoring strikers. If the wingers are not getting 10 plus then you can say I've had a quiet season. We look at Mo Salah's kind of set the stall for that where wingers now need to be hitting at least 10 to 15 goals a season and Saka has come short of that. Listen he is a worldass player but the players that I mentioned is he above them I would say no he's a below. Can he get better? Absolutely. If those numbers start to rise a little bit then he'll be in the conversation. remind us of your top five and is it in order? >> It's in order. Yeah, this is with which is with the goals and yeah, goals and so Mo Salah, you know, 97 games he scored 54 goals, 35 assists, 89 goals and assists. And then you've got Venice Junior with 92 games and he's got 42 goals, GA 60, 59 for Lima, Rafa Rafina 58, Danelli 55, then Saka with 53. And he's also played the third most minutes as well. So people can't say, "Oh, he's been injured." But he's also played the third mo most minutes out of them all. >> These guys are on it big games scoring double figure goals and sack sometime is not. >> Okay, >> look at Champions League final. Who scores? Dembele. I >> I want to ask you another question on that, but we've got to get back to Ian Abrahams because there's been another goal in the Brighton game. >> Brighton four. Cano Ziris nil. This time Matt O'Reilly with the goal. Lots of substitutions now for Brighton who've run rung the changes. One of them Ununice Ibrahim came on and with his very first effort it was across from the right hand side and there was O'Reilly who'd hit the post more than 60 seconds earlier to head the ball into the back of the net. Very much one-way traffic here. Brighton four Cano Ziris nil. >> Uh thank you very much. Just quickly then the the players that you talked about in your top five are all part of >> let's say multi-winning teams whether it's at international or club level. Um, now that Arsenal have got that Premier League title over the line and you're saying there is room for improvement with Saka, now that they've got that winning feeling, that momentum behind them, that's only going to help Saka, isn't it? And therefore, his numbers can improve. >> Well, well, they can improve, but they didn't. They won the league last year and that was his early >> and that was his lowest scoring season. >> Yeah, but he didn't play every single game last season. >> He still played 31. >> Yeah, only 38 season. Yeah, I'm not I'm just saying that those players that you're talking about have always been part of momentum teams that have won something >> in the main >> whe and you know you can talk about Yal winning international level as well. So what I'm saying is that helps you surely >> it does help and and Arsenal have been in that situation. Let's bear in mind the last three years they came you know apart from winning there was second getting to finals. So Arsenal have always been in that situation for the past four years, you know, contributing and getting to big finals and, you know, chasing Man City down to for the for the league. He's a great player. He is, but I'm sure as Arsenal fans will go, yeah, sometimes we might want a little bit more bit more numbers because he's he's got that ability and the players that I've mentioned are doing that respectively what league they are in. >> They're doing it and in big games, too. So once he gets on board on those levels as their numbers then he's in the conversation. most sales balandor nominated six times Venice Junior five le three Rafini two Yasaka's being nominated but 24th 21st out of 30 so he's he's amongst it he's there >> but he's just not the top five and I I don't think that and that's not even putting in >> well it's listen >> you're in there as well he's still got to be thrown in the mix so um >> I don't think there's much of it I think you're it's not a bad call it's not a bad call really close and I think you can get there if he just starts having that bit more of an input with the numbers. >> Yeah.