LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Arsenal FC and AS Monaco at Emirates Stadium on December 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka (23) put in yet another match-winning display, netting a brace as Arsenal swept aside AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night (3-0).
The England international already has 21 goal contributions in just 23 games this season, including nine goals. Since breaking through at his formative club, Saka has established himself as a key player for club (247 appearances, 67 goals, 62 assists) and country (43 appearances, 12 goals).
Consistency the key for Saka
After his brace against Les Monégasques, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked if Saka can now be put in the same bracket as the likes of Harry Kane and Vinícius Jr. “You have to be able to do that consistently for many years to be in that position,” began the Arsenal manager in a press conference, attended by Get French Football News.
He added, “What he’s done at his age, you can put in brackets because you can compare what he’s done in his first six years of professional football, which is exceptional. That’s it. His aim is to improve. He has the players and the environment around him to continue to do and I’m sure that he will.”
GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from the Emirates Stadium
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea in action during the UEFA Conference League match between Chelsea FC and FC Noah at Stamford Bridge on November 7, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Benoît Badiashile (23) has made 10 starts for Chelsea this season, however, only two of those have come in the Premier League. Six have come in the UEFA Europa Conference League, a competition in which Enzo Maresca has opted to field something of a B-team.
Currently, Badiashile is playing second fiddle to Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill, meaning that opportunities are limited for the Frenchman, who since joining Chelsea from formative club AS Monaco, has failed to truly establish himself in the Blues’ back line.
However, Chelsea are unwilling to listen to offers for Badiashile this January. Juventus and a “top club” in Ligue 1 (Olympique de Marseille, according to a separate report from Nice-Matin) have made approaches for the centre-back, according to a report from RMC Sport. However, having displayed his qualities in the Europa Conference League, he has convinced his manager that he can be counted on. A January departure is therefore not on the cards.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle