At 23 years old, Bukayo Saka draws compelling comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo‘s early career trajectory. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta actively encourages that parallel.
With 18 combined goals and assists in as many appearances this season, Saka has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most impactful players. He has scored in three consecutive games leading up to Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. The England international trails only Mohamed Salah in goal involvements for the season.
Arteta sees Saka’s ambition to pattern his game after his childhood hero as a positive. “To look is always good,” Arteta said when asked about Saka drawing inspiration from Ronaldo. “The way Cristiano started his career, and when he joined Manchester United, nobody probably expected in the first few seasons he would be able to do that. It was about his mentality, his work ethic, how he developed his skill, his chemistry with his team, and to play in a team that has the capacity as well to be dominant.”
Under Arteta’s guidance, Saka has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers. His ability to adapt and improve year after year has been remarkable. “In terms of the numbers, we always see a shift in Bukayo every single year,” Arteta remarked.
Bukayo Saka’s 2024/25 season stats
| Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 12 | 5 | 10 | 982′ |
| UEFA Champions League | 4 | 2 | 1 | 343′ |
| EFL Cup | 2 | – | – | 99′ |
| Total 24/25 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 1,424′ |
Arteta’s vision: Guiding Saka toward Ronaldoesque greatness
“He is providing something else. He is adding things to his game, he is more and more consistent, and his numbers in terms of impact in goals and assists is incredible at this stage of the season. He can only improve, he can only get better.”
Ronaldo, who joined Manchester United at 18 and became a five-time Ballon d’Or and Champions League winner, is a towering figure in football history. Arteta believes Saka has the context and support system to aim for such greatness. “Bukayo has got that context, and if he is aiming for that, I think it is a positive thing,” Arteta added.
Saka’s stellar performances have also come at a crucial time for Arsenal as they look to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool, who have a nine-point lead after 13 matches. Arsenal currently sit second, requiring a victory against Manchester United to maintain pressure at the top of the table.
As Arsenal prepares for both the Premier League clash and their FA Cup third-round draw against Manchester United, Arteta has also noted the early impact of United’s new manager, Ruben Amorim. “You can see his fingerprints in what he wants to do straight away,” Arteta said. “What he did with Sporting was remarkable. It brings energy to a new club and the players, which is always positive. But we have to focus on what we’re doing.”
For Arsenal, Saka remains central to their ambitions. As the England winger’s journey continues, comparisons to Ronaldo seem fitting but increasingly realistic, given his consistent excellence and hunger for more.
Arteta sees Saka’s pursuit of Ronaldo-level greatness as "positive thing"
