Arsenal icon reveals why current Gunner has "advantage" over Phil Foden

Former Arsenal attacker Freddie Ljunburg reserved his praise for one Arsenal star in particular after the Gunners’ 6-0 route of Sheffield United.

Having beaten West Ham 6-0 and Burnley 5-0 in their most recent away games, the Gunners dismantled Sheffield United on Monday night, netting five goals in the first half via Martin Odegaard, Jayden Bogle's own goal, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice.

Ben White added a sixth in the second to see Arsenal go just two points adrift of league leaders Liverpool and one point behind second-placed Manchester City.

After the game, Ljunburg issued praise on Bukayo Saka, who claimed two assists before coming off at half-time with illness.

Speaking to Premier League Productions Ljungberg said: “Anyone who sees Bukayo, they will say he is so tactically good, in small spaces he is good, but his pace is enormous.

“Playing against Bukayo Saka. You never, ever let him be isolated, so he can just run at you. He has enormous pace and a great brain.

“All that Bukayo sees is that space in behind, ‘Oh, I am going for it’. You have no chance of catching him, and then you have the first post defending that’s a joke (from Sheffield United)."

Ljunburg then compared Saka to England colleague Phil Foden, who had claimed a pair of goals in the Manchester derby against Manchester United on Sunday.

Ljunbrug said: “There is a difference (Saka has played more minutes). Then you can say what is right and what is wrong. Maybe Bukayo plays more than he should, he is young and he should be allowed to be rested. He runs a lot.

Phil Foden scored twice in Sunday's Manchester derby (Getty)

“Often what we talk about in clubs is the importance of the minutes when they are young, so they get clever. They then get experience in the trade. Like ‘Oh, I need to take it easy now. I can rest. I can go. What should I do? Is this player weak on this side?’

“That’s where I feel Bukayo has a little bit of an advantage because he has more minutes. Then you can see he (Foden) can be fresh when he plays and he has won a lot of trophies, so there is no right or wrong.

“He has given so much hope to the academy – one of the best players in the world in his position, in my opinion.”

Topics: Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Premier League, Sheffield United

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.