Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has compared England star Bukayo Saka to Spanish wonderkid Pedri after his sensational performance against Denmark in the semi-final last night.
Saka started on the right-wing and was a constant threat as long as he was on the pitch. He tormented Denmark’s left side and his inch-perfect cut-back helped the Three Lions equalise a few minutes before half-time.
Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane made the headlines thanks to their brilliance later on in the game. Both attackers certainly deserve all the praise they are getting, but Saka was arguably just as impressive.
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Smith was absolutely blown away by the Arsenal teenager’s performance. He heaped praise on his ability with and without the ball and compared him to Spain and Barcelona’s 18-year-old prodigy Pedri.
Alan Smith: Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is just like Spain’s Pedri
He told Sky Sports: “He’s got ice in his veins, nothing affects him. Once that whistle goes, he just wants the ball all the time. The stuff he does with the ball is fantastic and the runs he makes off the ball, for the equaliser, was absolutely brilliant.
“He has become one of the jewels in the England crown, we’ve got a few in there, but for one so young, he defies belief at times.
“Luis Enrique (Spain manager) was talking about 18-year-old Pedri the other day and saying: ‘I just cannot understand how a boy that young can do what he just did out on that pitch’.
“Saka’s the same with how he can do that kind of stuff. You don’t reach your peak until your mid-20’s but if he’s got all that improving to do between now and his mid-20’s, he’s going to be one heck of a player.”
Saka and Pedri are both unbelievable talents
Pedri, still only 18, stole the show at the Euros for Spain. He was arguably La Roja’s best player in the entire tournament and there is absolutely no doubt about the fact that he will go on to become an incredible player in the future.
Saka is no different. The teenager has been absolutely spectacular for Arsenal over the last 18 months and he is now doing the same for England on the international stage. He is one of the best players in the country at the moment, and he will only get better in the coming years.
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Arsenal and England are both really lucky to have Saka. He really is a gem, and he, along with Pedri, will be among the biggest names in world football in the very near future.
