Arsenal icon Emmanuel Petit has criticized England star Bukayo Saka, claiming the winger does not deserve to start for the Three Lions at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Petit cited Saka’s underwhelming end to the season, including his performance in the Champions League final, as the primary reason why he is not currently justifying his place in the Three Lions’ starting XI.
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“Saka, for me, is not coming out of a good season with Arsenal. We saw that in the Champions League final. He doesn’t make an impact anymore, and I think that there are other players who deserve to be picked in the starting lineup,” Petit told talkSPORT.
“I’m a huge, huge fan of Saka, but I’ve got to be honest. If I’m his team-mate, I don’t understand it. There are so many strong and talented players who are better than Saka.”
Saka has established himself as one of Arsenal’s most vital and consistent players, recording over 60 goals and 50 assists in more than 220 Premier League appearances.
Known for his technical skill, durability, and creativity on the right wing, he frequently leads the club in both goals and goal involvements each season.
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In his last four games in all competitions, Saka has scored one goal and not assisted. That includes a 28-minute outing for England against Costa Rica in preparation for the World Cup.
However, in the space of four games in May, the Arsenal winger scored twice and assisted twice, including the crucial goal in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
