Ray Parlour believes a player in Arsenal’s current squad has already surpassed Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright in the Gunners’ all-time list of best players.
The North London club have had a number of outstanding players on their books over the years, including the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
Naturally, the greatest stars in Arsenal’s history have generally played during their most successful periods, in the 1990s and 2000s in particular.
However, Parlour believes the current iteration of the Gunners has a player who is already in that top bracket.
Ray Parlour thinks Bukayo Saka is already in Arsenal’s top five players of all time
Bukayo Saka is close to signing a new contract, and this could allow him to develop into an Arsenal legend.
The 24-year-old has already made 275 appearances for the Gunners, and a new four or five-year deal would likely see him surpass the 400 mark with relative ease.
This tally would already place him amongst the top appearance makers in Arsenal’s history, and by the time he’s reached these landmarks, he should also have the honours and accolades that see him talked about in a similar vein to some of the Gunners’ greatest ever players.
However, Parlour believes he’s already there, even with just a solitary FA Cup to his name.
Asked by Arsenal Fan Reaction on TikTok who the five best Arsenal players of all time are, Parlour named Saka, alongside Henry, Bergkamp, Tony Adams and Liam Brady.
In Parlour’s eyes, the Gunners winger has already surpassed the likes of Ian Wright and Patrick Vieira.
“I’d say Saka at the moment,” Parlour said.
“He could, potentially, be there. He’s going to break all the records, appearances, if he stays at Arsenal.”
Bukayo Saka will be an Arsenal legend if he wins the Premier League this season
Saka probably hasn’t quite merited the label of Arsenal legend just yet.
This tag is a huge honour, and in order to be in that category, he has to have won a piece of major silverware.
However, the Premier League title this season would be enough. Arsenal have been through a difficult period in the last 20 years regarding major honours, not winning the league or the Champions League.
If Saka were to lead the Gunners to their first major trophy for the first time in over 20 years, he’d instantly have to be recognised as a club legend.
He has been the poster boy of this new project, taking the North Londoners from mid-table mediocrity to being one of the best teams in world football.
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