Arsenal icon Cesc Fabregas’ comments about Phil Foden serve to underline just how impressive Bukayo Saka has been for England.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was able to impress for England against Serbia at Euro 2024 on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate was able to name Saka in his starting XI on Sunday after the 22-year-old passed a fitness test, and the winger rewarded the manager with a scintillating first half display.
Saka dazzled Arsenal fans with his performance, and made a telling impact for his country, as he provided the cross for Jude Bellingham’s early strike. That goal turned out to be enough to secure a vital 1-0 win for the Three Lions.
Ultimately, it was far from being a comfortable victory for Southgate’s side. Serbia grew into the game and were the better side after the break, as England seemed to invite pressure upon themselves.
England’s struggles were not helped by Phil Foden’s performance, as the Manchester City star, deployed on the left flank, could not replicate Saka’s impact on the opposite side of the pitch.
Foden was untidy on the ball, offered no real threat in the final third, and was all too often bypassed by the game almost entirely for extended periods.
His performance drew criticism from Arsenal icon and two-time Euros winner Cesc Fabregas.
Cesc Fabregas takes aim at Phil Foden as Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka shines for England v Serbia
Speaking on the BBC after the match, the Spaniard stated: “It’s about do you want it enough to make a difference and hold the ball for your team? Do you want to make things happen? Do you enjoy to get the ball under pressure?
“You need to take this responsibility to grow. I think that the second half was a little bit underwhelming. I would say that is the right word. And I think players like Foden, they need to step up. This is the time for them to go into big tournament with their country behind them.”
At Manchester City, where Foden is intimately familiar with his role in the side and every detail of Pep Guardiola’s system, he is able to flourish. It is also worth noting that, for the most part, he is surrounded by a higher standard of player when he is with his club than he is whilst on international duty.
Without that structure, designed to bring the best out of him, Foden has often struggled to produce his best. In 35 senior international appearances, he has scored just four goals.
Why Saka now has an edge over Foden
By contrast, Saka was able to step up for England on Sunday, and provided a crucial assist to go with his tally of 11 goals in 34 England caps.
Similarly to Foden at Manchester City, Saka enjoy a system designed by Mikel Arteta to suit his strengths at Arsenal, yet he is still able to deliver for his country so often. This speaks to the winger’s adaptability and football IQ, which are both areas in which he is currently more developed than Foden.
Arsenal players and transfer targets at Euro 2024
In this week’s episode of Cannon Fire – The Arsenal Insider Podcast, Will Jones and Rahul Lakhani discuss the European Championships. With 11 Arsenal players set to feature at the tournament, the pair debated which players could be fighting for their futures, and which are destined to succeed on the international stage.