S Poddar
Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka is full of confidence that the Gunners can finally reclaim the Premier League title this season, ending a 21-year wait since their last triumphant streak. Following Arsenal’s massive 2-0 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, a result really deserving of praise, Bukayo believes that it’s going to be their year to potentially win the league title.
Arsenal went close to the title in the last seasons; they lost the 2022-23 season, finishing as runner-up while taking the title fight to the final game of the previous season, where it ended narrowly short as Manchester City once again overwhelmed them. Arsenal lie third on the table and their resounding victory over PSG with goals from Kai Havertz and Saka gave clear credentials as serious contenders for the title.
Speaking to CBS Sports, Saka shared his thoughts on the team’s progress: “I don’t want to put too much pressure on us, but I do think that this is the year [that we can win the title]. I think we’ve been close the last two years, and we’re getting closer. Hopefully, this will be the year.”
He is a very important figure in the Arsenal squad now, and the determination to win the league has only gone bigger. Having been the team’s top scorer last season in the Premier League, Saka is hungry for even greater success. Speaking with Amazon Prime, he shared his personal motivation: “Previous years, I’ve come runners-up a lot. It’s just that spirit in me that I want to win this season, and of course, I believe in myself a lot. With those two things, it helps.”
Belief appears extremely significant to Saka and his teammates. The young star emphasized that it is very important for Arsenal to go into every big game with confidence, especially when they are hosting clubs from Europe: “We believe in ourselves, we believe we’re a top team. We showed that tonight. I did tell the boys we have to make a statement when big teams are coming to the Emirates.”
That was the type of statement Saka was talking about when they thumped PSG. It was not just accumulation of points in the Champions League but proof that Arsenal are good enough to compete against the best of Europe’s clubs. The quality of their mental character and confidence in such games will be crucial as they continue their domestic campaign, especially with a tricky fixture list ahead.
Now, the Gunners face a Premier League clash with Southampton, who are currently below the bottom third of the Premier League table at 19th place. The paper can say that this might be an easy three points for Arsenal; however, the pressure comes in on the club to continue that form and avoid any slip-ups. These are the type of matches that can make or break a title challenge and Saka will be acutely aware of the importance of keeping his concentration going against third-tier opposition.
Now, with the maturity and resilience in Arsenal, it can easily be said that this is a different team from the ones that have fallen in previous seasons. Evidence abounds within the Premier League and Champions League campaigns: blushes are now a thing of the past, but the squad grows in confidence and skills at every match; Saka has led this transformation with solid performances.
Fans of Arsenal should be happy with this optimism beginning to translate into results over the long season. If it can continue and statements are made in big games, of course, without the characteristic faltering that seems to get Arsenal against those teams they are supposed to beat, then surely this really does represent the season by which Arsenal finally breaks its two-decade wait for reclaiming the Premier League crown.
It can go down as the contagious determination and belief for Saka, and evident that both he and his team focus more than ever on their target. Hunger is apparent and, if such players as him lead the way, one cannot say that title aspirations are a dream any longer for Arsenal.
