LONDON: Bukayo Saka believes Arsenal’s strength in depth can be the difference for the Gunners this season as they look to end a wait since 2003/04 to win the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s men are four points clear at the top of the table from Bournemouth, with their realistic title challengers Manchester City and Liverpool six and seven points adrift respectively.
Arsenal have finished second for each of the past three seasons when injury problems at times derailed their title challenge.
However, Arteta now has a far deeper pool of resources to call on after a £250 million ($333 million) spend on eight sigings during the transfer window.
Saka is among the Arsenal stars, also including Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and William Saliba, to have already been sidelined by injury at times this season.
But Arteta’s side have relied on their strength from set pieces and an excellent defensive record to win seven consecutive games in all competitions.
“This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality. We’ve suffered already a lot of injuries, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest,” Saka told Sky Sports.
“I think that’s where we’ve slipped off in a few seasons, but this season, we’ve got that and it’s making me really believe we can do it.”
Next year could be a memorable one for Saka as he also aims to end England’s long wait since 1966 to win a major tournament at the World Cup.
“That’s my prayer. Of course it is doable,” he added on the prospect of a Premier League and World Cup double in 2026.
“You can’t really do anything if you don’t believe in it. I believe it is possible. It won’t be easy, definitely won’t be easy, but yeah it is possible.”
Saka was part of the England sides that lost two European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions are the only European side to qualify so far for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico after a flawless start to their qualifying campaign since Thomas Tuchel took charge.
Saka has been impressed by Tuchel and hopes his experience at the highest level of the club game with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich can be key to England’s chances.
“I think he is a top coach, tactical understanding and with people as well he is very demanding, he knows how to get the best out of the players I would say,” said the 24-year-old.
“He has shown in the past he can win at the highest level and won the biggest of trophies. He has competed in many finals as well, so he has definitely got the experience and hopefully he can guide us to victory.”
Arsenal depth fuels Saka’s belief in Premier League title charge
https://arab.news/4e6qf
Arsenal depth fuels Saka’s belief in Premier League title charge
- Saka is among the Arsenal stars, also including Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and William Saliba, to have already been sidelined by injury at times this season
- “This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality,” Saka told Sky Sports
‘Believing’ Alcaraz outlasts Zverev in epic to reach maiden Melbourne final
- World number one outlasts German third seed over a titanic match over five hours in hot conditions
- Should he snap the drought he would be the youngest man in the Open era to win all four majors
MELBOURNE: An ailing Carlos Alcaraz said “believing” helped him pull through one of the most demanding matches of his career to down Alexander Zverev in five epic sets and reach his first Australian Open final Friday.
The world number one outlasted the German third seed 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 over a titanic 5hrs 27 mins in hot conditions and will play either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s title match in Melbourne.
The Spaniard only narrowly avoided crashing out after a huge fright at 4-4 in the third set when he pulled up in pain with what appeared to be cramp.
He was allowed to have treatment at the changeover, leaving Zverev furious and angrily remonstrating with officials.
Medical timeouts are not permitted solely for muscle cramping.
Alcaraz continued but his movement was hampered and he lost his first set of the tournament, before the pickle juice kicked in and he fought on.
Despite not being at 100 percent the 22-year-old somehow found a way to claw back from a break down in the fifth set as the crowd roared him on.
Germany’s Zverev was left shattered in his latest failed bid to win a major.
“Believing all the time,” Alcaraz, into his eighth major final and fourth in a row, said of how he pulled through.
“I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what, no matter what struggles you’ve been through, you’ve gotta still believe in yourself all the time.
“I was struggling in the middle of the third set,” he added. “Basically it was one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played in my short career.
“But I’ve been in these kinds of situations, these kinds of matches before.
“I had to put my heart into the match. I fought until the last ball.”
Alcaraz has won two French Opens, two US Opens and twice at Wimbledon, but success on the blue Melbourne Park hard courts has eluded him in four previous campaigns.
Should he snap the drought he would be the youngest man in the Open era to win all four majors, surpassing compatriot and legend Rafael Nadal, who was 24 when he did so.
His efforts on Friday made him the youngest to reach the men’s singles final at all four Slams.
“I’m really happy to play my first final in Melbourne. It’s something I was pursuing a lot,” said Alcaraz, who collapsed to the court at the end.
“It’s been a great two weeks so far. My level is improving a lot.”
Ailing Alcaraz
The first set went with serve with few meaningful rallies, until Alcaraz unleashed a backhand winner at 3-3 to earn the first break point of the match.
Zverev held on but the Spaniard worked another break point on his next serve, with the German double-faulting as the pressure mounted.
Alcaraz served out for the set but the towering Zverev kept his cool and raised his level to earn his first break points of the match at 3-2 in the second set.
The top seed saved two but whipped a forehand long to slide 4-2 behind.
Alcaraz sensationally broke back as Zverev served at 5-3 and it went to a tiebreak, where the world number one prevailed with a scorching forehand.
Disaster struck in the third set when Alcaraz began limping badly.
He managed to hold for 5-4 but took a medical timeout, leaving Zverev fuming, before continuing to another tiebreak where the German made his move.
Despite the problems Alcaraz continued winning points and holding serve in set four as his movement improved, and another tiebreak beckoned with the third seed again coming out on top.
Zverev broke early in the fifth to move 2-0 ahead, but he folded when serving for the match and Alcaraz broke back for 5-5, and then again to seal the most dramatic of wins.
