Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney (Pictures: Getty)
Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney have hailed ‘fantastic’ Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka ahead of Euro 2024.
Saka and the rest of the England squad arrived in Germany on Monday as Gareth Southgate’s side prepare for their opening group game against Serbia on Sunday night.
Following another impressive season for title-challenging Arsenal, Saka is expected to start for England at the Euros in an advanced role on the right-flank.
The 22-year-old scored 20 goals and made 13 assists in 44 Premier League and Champions League games last season, helping the Gunners push Manchester City all the way in a thrilling and competitive title race.
Saka’s form led to him being shortlisted for the Premier League young player of the season award – which his England team-mate Cole Palmer won – and he will hope to continue to impress in Germany over the next few weeks.
Arsenal legend Henry worked with Saka while he was still in the academy and insists his ‘outstanding’ development has surprised even those within the club.
Henry also praised Saka for how he responded to missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final – and the deplorable racial abuse that came with it.
Bukayo Saka travelled to Germany with the England squad on Monday (Picture: Getty)
‘He has a coach in the national team that can help him because that happened to him, and he has a family,’ Henry told the Premier League. ‘You just need to go out there and once again perform. You perform and people will forget. And that’s exactly what he did.
‘I know Bukayo for a very long time, since the academy. I don’t think anyone thought he was going to be what he became. There was a lot of hope. But what he has been doing is just outstanding!
‘He’s so humble, the way he sees the game… defending well, attacking well, clever the way he holds the ball, now he’s adding goals and assists to his game.
Saka enjoyed another productive season for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
‘To remember the guy that I saw in the academy early doors and see what he became… when you have the will, that grit, that desire and work ethic – talent can be one thing but if you don’t have that, you’re going nowhere. He has that!
‘Trust me, it’s not easy. I never had to deal with that, missing the penalty and everyone is looking at you and getting abused like that. But like I said, it speaks volumes about his mentality, how he is and the people he has around.’
Rooney also heaped praise on ‘game-changer’ Saka and described his recent form for Arsenal and England as ‘fantastic’.
‘It’s very rare you get wide player running off the ball and running in behind, and I think his movement is fantastic,’ the Three Lions legend said.
‘You imagine his position on the right for England is almost cemented in. He is a game-changer who can win games for you. He has been fantastic, especially the last couple of years.’
Saka came on as a second-half substitute in England’s final Euro 2024 warm-up game against Iceland but is expected to start against Serbia on Sunday.
Southgate’s side then play two more group games against Denmark and Slovenia as they look to progress from Group C and ultimately win the Euros and end 58 years of hurt.
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