Emile Heskey has stirred up debate by naming who he believes are the two best wingers in the Premier League right now. The surprise was not just who he picked, but who he left out. Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka did not make the cut. That alone ensured the conversation travelled quickly. Heskey’s comments came at a time when winger form is under constant scrutiny. The margins are thin. Output matters. Influence matters too. And recent weeks have shifted perception more than past reputations.
WHY SALAH AND SAKA WERE LEFT OUT
Salah’s numbers last season were historic. He carried Liverpool to the title and swept up individual awards. This campaign has felt different. His influence has dipped at times. There were questions about his role under Arne Slot. Even a brief dropping from the side added noise, though that situation has since settled.
Saka’s case is more subtle. Arsenal are flying. Top of the league. Strong in Europe. Yet by his own standards, Saka has not exploded statistically. He has played well. He has been reliable. But goals have been fewer. Just six across major competitions has stood out. That context matters when opinions are formed in the moment.
HESKEY PICKS HIS TOP TWO
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Heskey made his view clear. For him, the two best wingers in England right now both play for Manchester City. He named Jeremy Doku as number one. Antoine Semenyo came second.
“When you’re looking at, in my opinion, the best winger in the league, Doku, and the second best, Semenyo, why not bring them both together?” Heskey said, referencing City’s January business.
It was a confident statement. And one that did not hedge.
🗣️ ''The winger and second best winger in the league''
Emile Heskey believes Manchester City's Jérémy Doku and Antoine Semenyo. are the two best wingers in the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/jarKlHWB7E
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 26, 2026
WHY JEREMY DOKU STANDS OUT
Doku has never been about neat numbers. His game is chaos. Direct running. Constant pressure on full-backs. He stretches defences even when he doesn’t score. His final product still divides opinion. Just three goals this season across competitions. But nine assists show another side. More importantly, the eye test remains strong.
In league play, Doku completes more take-ons per 90 than Salah, Saka or Semenyo. That alone explains why defenders struggle with him. He changes the shape of games even without a finish. For Heskey, that influence seems to outweigh raw goal totals.
Semenyo’s inclusion raised fewer eyebrows once you look closer. Since arriving from Bournemouth in January, he has made an instant impression at City. Three goals. One assist. Four games. No bedding-in period.
Across the season as a whole, his output stands up well. Thirteen goals and four assists underline that he brings end product, not just presence. His strength, directness and willingness to shoot early have fitted City’s system faster than many expected. Heskey clearly values that clarity.
ONLINE REACTION WAS ALWAYS COMING
The reaction online was inevitable. Leaving out Salah and Saka guarantees pushback. Some fans focused on career achievement. Others focused on trophies. Some questioned whether Heskey was reacting too heavily to recent form. That split tells its own story. Rankings like this are rarely about consensus. They reflect timing, taste and what a former player values most.
A CITY CONNECTION IN THE BACKGROUND
Heskey’s interest in City players is not purely professional. Both of his sons are on the club’s books.
Jaden Heskey, 20, is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday but has already made his senior debut under Pep Guardiola. Reigan Heskey, 18, a left winger, made his debut in the same League Cup match earlier this season.
That context does not invalidate Heskey’s view, but it adds a layer. He watches City closely. He sees them often. Familiarity shapes judgement.
WHAT THIS REALLY SAYS
This ranking says less about Salah or Saka declining and more about how quickly Premier League narratives move. Form windows matter. Impact now matters.
Doku and Semenyo are delivering in different ways. One through chaos. One through output. Heskey prefers that combination over reputation.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
This feels like a snapshot, not a verdict. Heskey is reacting to what he sees right now, not what has been built over years. That is why the names jar. Doku and Semenyo are forcing themselves into conversations because of immediacy. Salah and Saka have earned patience, but patience rarely wins debates. In this league, momentum often speaks loudest.
As featured on ManCityNews.com
As featured on Walkon.com
As featured on GoonerNews.com