Bukayo Saka didn’t hesitate when asked to identify the best team Arsenal have faced this season. Once again, the Gunners’ campaign has been overshadowed by a familiar storyline — tantalizingly close to silverware, yet ultimately falling short. Arsenal seem set for yet another season ending just shy of glory, as their reputation as perennial nearly-men in football remains unchanged.
Liverpool’s recent victory effectively ended Arsenal’s hopes of lifting the Premier League title, sealing a third straight second-place finish — a painful trio of near-misses that underscores the difficulty Mikel Arteta’s side faces in overcoming the final hurdle. Despite being just one win away from reaching a long-awaited Champions League final, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at home has left them with a steep climb ahead in the return leg.
Arsenal have shown they can beat anyone on their day — from Inter Milan to Real Madrid and Manchester City — but when the pressure is on, they often seem to falter, like a flower that never fully blossoms in spring. Yet, among all their elite opponents this season, one team has stood out for Saka — a team that set the benchmark in a season filled with close calls.
Saka Picks PSG as Arsenal’s Toughest Test This Season
Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain have transformed into a formidable force, and Arsenal now face an uphill battle in the second leg in Munich after Ousmane Dembélé’s goal secured a first-leg win for the French champions. PSG, who lost 2-0 to Arsenal earlier in the campaign, have made noticeable improvements — enough to impress Saka deeply.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Saka said: “100% they were like a different team. I know they only changed two players from the last game, but the way they moved, how cohesive they were — it was impressive.”
When asked if PSG were the best team he’d played against this season, he responded, “I’d probably say yes. They have so much threat up front, and in midfield they keep the ball so well and make you run — and honestly, no one likes that.”
Although Saka scored in the earlier group-stage clash, last week’s game told a different story. Nuno Mendes delivered a standout defensive display, frustrating even one of the best wingers in the world and earning widespread praise.
Perhaps it was Mendes’ performance in particular that influenced Saka’s view. Still, despite the daunting challenge ahead at the Parc des Princes, the 23-year-old remains optimistic that Arsenal can rise to the occasion.
He added: “It’s important we stay composed, but we know we have another level to hit. I believe we’ll show that in Paris and turn things around.”
Reflecting on the difficulties of the first leg, Saka said: “It was hard to find space, they crowded me out and defended well. Now I’m focusing on where I can find openings in the second leg.”
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