Garth Crooks believes the ‘trolls’ who ‘wrote off’ an Arsenal star now look ‘foolish’ as he has proved any doubters wrong to emerge as a leading figure at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners enjoyed by large a successful season but fell narrowly short in their quest to lift a title. Mikel Arteta saw Arsenal miss out on lifting their first Premier League title in 20 years by just two points. He also led the north Londoners to the Champions League quarter-finals.
A 3-2 loss on aggregate to Bayern Munich saw Arsenal bow out of Europe after reaching the last eight of the UEFA competition for the first time since 2010. Five draws and five losses to Manchester City’s seven draws and three losses also proved the difference for the top-flight.
Garth Crooks thinks Bukayo Saka has made the Arsenal star’s critics look ‘foolish’
A host of players stepped up for Arteta to help Arsenal push Manchester City to the final day this term. William Saliba became the first Gunners ace to play all 3,420 minutes of a Premier League term. Bukayo Saka (16), Kai Havertz (13) and Leandro Trossard (12) hit double digits.
Captain Martin Odegaard (10) also led the way at Emirates Stadium for assists. His haul beat that of Declan Rice, Saka (9) and Havertz (7). Crooks has also now picked Saliba, Saka, Rice and Odegaard in his Premier League Team of the Season for their form for Arsenal this term.
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What Saka offered in 2023/24 also showed Crooks that those who ‘wrote off’ the 22-year-old after his missed penalty in the final of Euro 2020 for England now look ‘foolish’. The Hale End hero saw Gianluigi Donnarumma save his shot for the Three Lions’ crucial fifth spot-kick.
Crooks told BBC Sport: “I’ve no doubt that Saka will be devastated by his team missing out on lifting the Premier League title. But, hopefully, his fortunes will change at Euro 2024 this summer in Germany.
“Arsenal’s leading goalscorer – who was written off and racially abused by trolls on social media after missing his penalty in the Euro 2020 final shootout three years ago – has certainly come a long way since then.
“Those who abused and wrote him off on that infamous evening are looking rather foolish now.”
Bukayo Saka has continually gotten better and better since Euro 2020
Saka has indeed come a long way since his heartbreaking miss at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final for Arsenal and England. The winger closed out the tournament sitting on one goal and two assists through nine career caps. He now has 11 goals and seven assists over 32 games.
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Arsenal also saw an instant response from Saka during the 2021/22 season as he scored 12 and assisted seven goals in 43 fixtures across all competitions. He then took his tallies to 15 and 11 in 2022/23, and continued to refine his finishing for 20 goals and 14 assists in 23/24.
Only Odegaard also hit double digits for goals and assists across all competitions for Arsenal this season. The 25-year-old hit the back of the net 11 times and laid on a further 11 assists. Now, England boss Gareth Southgate will hope Saka takes his form for Arsenal to Euro 2024.