Ex-Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere feared he’d be accused of bias after he claimed England fans aren’t fully aware of just how good Bukayo Saka is – they do now, after the winger’s inspired display against Iran.
Wilshere discussed the 21-year-old Gunners star before the Three Lions’ opening game of the Qatar World Cup when it was still unclear whether Saka would be named in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI. The former Arsenal star and England international explained how he would have been shocked had the forward not made the line-up.
Debate among the England fanbase over whether Saka or Manchester City’s Phil Foden should start was rife before kick-off, but Southgate ended up opting for the in-form Emirates hero, something Wilshere had predicted all along.
Writing in The Sun, the now-retired midfielder explained: “I wonder if the England fans realise what a truly great player we have in Bukayo Saka. Yes, I know I’ll be accused of bias because Bukayo plays for Arsenal but, honestly, he has special gifts.
“What amazes me about him is he always makes the right decision, it’s incredible.
“It is so rare for a young player – he’s only just turned 21 – to instinctively know what is right in any given situation. I stress with my Arsenal Under-18 players to study him.”
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Wilshere will be hoping his Arsenal youth stars were watching on Monday afternoon, as Saka proved just too hot for Iran to handle.
Less than 18 months after his European Championship penalty heartache, the Gunners winger showed no sign of any emotional hangover as he bagged twice on his World Cup debut.
The first of his goals came midway through the first half, with Saka responding fastest to a loose ball after Harry Maguire’s header was blocked. The Hale End academy graduate fired a lethal volley into the roof of the net to double England’s advantage following Jude Bellingham’s opener.
Saka wasn’t done there, with more goal-scoring heroics to come after the interval.
England went in at the break 3-0 up courtesy of Raheem Sterling’s strike just before half-time and Saka put the game beyond any doubt with his second and the Three Lions’ fourth.
Saka held his nerve inside the penalty area to beat the oncoming challenges of two Iran defenders and then proceeded to calmly slot his left-footed strike into the bottom corner of the net.
The Arsenal star was eventually replaced by Marcus Rashford, who also got on the scoresheet just minutes after being brought on. Saka’s performance ensured Wilshere’s pre-match praise was more than justified.
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