Latest Arsenal news with Bukayo Saka responding clearly to a Champions League final hint from Barcelona star Lamine Yamal
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has issued a glowing Lamine Yamal verdict following his Champions League semi-final heroics for Barcelona against Inter.
After conceding twice in the opening minutes 21 minutes, the 17-year-old dragged his side back into the first leg with a sensational left-footed strike after evading several challenges. A further three goals would follow in the remainder of the game with the six-goal thriller ending level.
The Arsenal icon said: “I’m going to watch the [El] Clasico [Barcelona vs Real Madrid], would it be possible for you to give me your shirt, for my son?”
Yamal responded: “I’ll have to do a swap, you have mine and I’ll have yours.”
“The Barça one, I suppose?,” Henry retorted back.
“Barcelona, the Arsenal shirt, whichever one you want,” the Barcelona youngster replied. Alongside almost all football fans, Saka thoroughly enjoyed the semi-final between the Spanish giants and Inter.
“Top game,” he admitted when asked for his thoughts on Barcelona vs Inter during an interview with Sky Sports. “I enjoyed it. A lot of quality on show.”
Asked specifically about Yamal, he added: “He’s top. Honestly, doing what he is doing at his age, what can you say, he’s unreal. It’s not normal. No one does it. I don’t think I’ve seen that level for a 17-year-old, so credit to him.”
Based on the two admissions made by Saka and Yamal, it seems as though both would be excited by facing off in the Champions League final. However, Arsenal and Barcelona need positive results away from home for that to become reality.
For Mikel Arteta, the return of Thomas Partey will come as a huge boost while Luis Enrique could be forced to navigate the second leg without Ousmane Dembele after he picked up an injury at Emirates Stadium.
Unsurprisingly, he has been left out of their confirmed squad to face Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Saturday with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Marquinhos all rested.
UEFA Champions League
Arsenal face PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on April 29 and fans can watch it free with an Amazon Prime subscription or by signing up for a 30-day free trial.
More Champions League fixtures are available on TNT Sports via Discovery+ Premium.
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