Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard believes “the sky is the limit” for Bukayo Saka after the winger kicked off the season in style against Wolves.
Saka set up Arsenal’s opening goal in their 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium, before scoring his side’s second with just over 15 minutes to go.
The 22-year-old has increased his output in front of goal year on year, finding the net 20 times in all competitions last season for the first time.
And asked if Saka should now aim to compete with the likes of Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah, who has won the Premier League’s Golden Boot three times, Odegaard said: “I think there is no roof for this guy.
“It is unbelievable, the quality that he has and how professional he is, how much he loves the game and how much he puts into it every day. The sky is the limit for him.
“I am just happy to have him on my team and we have got to help him to improve all the time, and push him. I am really happy for him.
Back home in N5 with a win ❤️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 17, 2024
Check out the highlights of today's 2-0 victory over Wolves 👇 pic.twitter.com/MoiWNQVPF9
“I think he will just get better and better. You see him every day in training, he is working so hard and he is working on all the small details to get better. I am sure he is just going to improve and improve. I can’t wait to see where he takes it.”
Saka started Arsenal’s opening Premier League game against Wolves, despite having a shortened pre-season. The winger was part of the England squad that reached the final of Euro 2024, losing to Spain, and as a result he and Declan Rice only returned to training for Arsenal at the start of this month.
“A lot of respect to the guys who played in the Euros and then had a short break and came straight here and delivered - especially after the season we had, which was so tough and a lot of games,” said Odegaard.
“It just shows how professional they all are and the level we are at now. I am really happy.
“It was quite easy for me [as a captain], everyone came back so motivated after last year. I think as soon as we finished the last game, everyone was like: ‘Next year we are going to come back even stronger’.
“We have done that in pre-season with the ones who came back early, the ones who came later. I think it is just the level we are at and how connected we are, how aligned we are. We all want the same thing, so it’s easy.”Arsenal have narrowly missed out on the title to Manchester City in each of the last two seasons, but they are determined to go one better this year.
“I think it is margins,” said Odegaard. “It was so tough, we were so close and it’s small margins.
“I think Mikel [Arteta] has spoken about how we need to improve our worst level as well a little bit, [so] that even on a bad day we can get those wins. I think today we didn’t play our best game, but we won 2-0. I feel like we are taking all the right steps and I am looking forward to the next game already now.”
