Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
‘I’ve played against him’: Premier League player says Arsenal now have a forward who is ‘so strong’
Adam Lallana has lavished praise on England and Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka ahead of tonight’s game with France.
Lallana told the he has played against Saka and been impressed by him but also grown into even more of a fan of him watching him during the World Cup.
Saka is likely to start on the right wing for England tonight as they aim to knock out the tournament holders in the quarter-finals.
Lallana on Saka
“I have played against (him), but the view I have had over the past few weeks has given me a new appreciation of his talent. What has been striking is his calmness in an England shirt.
“He seems that sort of person anyway. For example, he is not overly aggressive in his body language when he gets fouled.
“But what sticks out is that in the decisive moments, he exudes calm. When you are in the final third, the ball comes to you and you are going to shoot, there can be an element of panic. With Saka, it looks like time stands still for him.
“The dinked goal he scored against Senegal from Phil Foden’s pass is evidence of that, but there are other scenarios where his composure and coolness is on point.
“When he comes deep to receive the ball, he is not hurried, he doesn’t normally take a heavy touch or run into traffic. He will get his arm up, feel where the defender is and take a touch. He must be so strong because he never gets pushed off the ball. Then he releases it when the time is right. I don’t understand how he is like that at 21.”
England are looking to emulate their performance from the 2018 World Cup, when they went to the semi-final stage.
Saka was not part of the setup then but he helped the side make the final of Euro 2020, but of course suffered penalty heartbreak in the final.
He has a score to settle from the penalty spot, and has already said that if the chance arose to take another spot-kick, he would take it tonight.