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Ray Parlour says £30m Arsenal player improves so much when Bukayo Saka is in the team

Charles Jones

Thu 27 March 2025 10:45, UK

Arsenal’s Premier League title dreams have gone up in smoke this season, but there’s still something to play for.

Indeed, Arsenal are still in the Champions League, and while they face an uphill battle aheadꦓ of facing Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, anything is poss🅠ible here.

Thierry Henry believes Arsenal can get past Rea💫l Madrid, and speaking to Hayters TV, Ray Parlour has shared an interesting verdict on this game.

The pundit says that he really hopes Bukayo Saka will be back fit for the Madrid tie, claimingಌ that the winger is so importꦦant to this Arsenal team.

According to Parlour, Martin Odegaard plays much better when Saka is in the team.

• READ MORE: Declan Rice shares what Max Dowman needs to dꦍo to be a success at Arsenal

Martin Odegaard is better when Bukayo Saka plays

Parlour spoke about Sakಌa’s return and the affect he will have on his teammaꦏtes.

According to the pundit, Martin Odegaard plays mꦆuch better when Saka is alongside him.

Saka is expected to return in early April, so he could well be fit to face Madrid.

♈“Hopefully Saka will be back. I don’t know how far away he is from being back, but you’re risking a player who has been out a while on a game. But if he’s ready to go he will make a massive difference,” Pa🐓rlour said.

“I think Odegaard plays better when he’s on the right side, with a bit more bal🅘an🦂ce, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

Martin Odegaard record with and without Bukayo Saka

Parlour says that Odegaard plays much better when Saka isꦿ in the team, and, interestingly, the stats do 🐲back that up.

Pa🦩ul Merson reckons Odegaard makes Saka a better player, but Parlour believes it’s act📖ually the other way around.

Of course, Saka has been almost ever-present for Arsenal o💝ver the years, so there isn’t a huge sample size to look at, but Odegaard’s numbers are much worse when Saka doesn’t play.

Saka♏ is undoubtedly one of Arsenal’s best and most important players, and if he’s fit to face Real Madrid, Arsenal mꦉay well stand a chance of getting past Los Blancos.

Arsenal still have a chance of winning the Champions League, but they will need the likes of Saka and Odegaard to be at their best if they are to become Euro🅰pean champions.