Liverpool and Rangers legend Graeme Souness has hit out at Bukayo Saka and labelled him as a "cheat" in an astonishing attack after Arsenal's win at Nottingham Forest
Graeme Souness has slammed Bukayo Saka as a "cheat"
Graeme Souness has slammed Bukayo Saka as a "cheat"(Image: @SportsUncensord/X)
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Bukayo Saka is a "cheat" who "dives when he should be staying on his feet". That is the verdict of Graeme Souness, who has accused the Arsenal forward of "simulation" and deceiving referees without being fouled.
Souness made the comments during an explosive rant on Piers Morgan's Football Uncensored. He argued that Saka goes to ground too easily and that Arsenal players put pressure on referees to influence their decisions.
The Liverpool captain added that the England international, who is the second-most fouled player in the Premier League this season (21) behind Elliot Anderson (23), should remain on his feet rather than exaggerate contact.
Saka faced criticism during a Champions League quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich in 2024 when he went down after receiving contact from Manuel Neuer, but referee Glenn Nyberg waved away appeals.
Now, Souness has slammed Saka after he was accused of diving again in Arsenal's 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, leaving Gunners fan Morgan incensed.
"Your man Saka dives all over the place. I don't want to hear about him. The minute he looks like losing possession, he's down," Souness said. "He simulates a foul. Anyone who simulates a foul in my book would be a cheat.
"He dives when he should be staying on his feet. He's not alone. So Saka gets tackled, he screams as he's going down. The referee thinks there's nothing in that but wait a minute, he's stayed down. And then worse than that, everyone in the immediate area - all Arsenal players - put their hands up and scream foul.
Saka has been branded a "cheat" by Souness
Saka has been branded a "cheat" by Souness(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
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"The referee at that point panics and blows his whistle when it wasn't a foul - his first instinct was the right one. But he blows a foul because he's thinking, wait a minute, something I'm not understanding here.
"Simulation is a form of cheating, yes. But it's all over football today. If you asked 100 people what is it you dislike about the modern game, 50 per cent would say simulation, another 50 per cent would say VAR."
Saka and Arsenal are next in action when they travel to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. They then go up against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday before travelling to Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup three days later. It's a chaotic period for the Gunners, who are facing six more matches in less than three weeks before the next international break.