Bukayo Saka told Noni Madueke and Chelsea star are BOTH better than him: 'Don't get the hype'

Bukayo Saka has been told he will be eclipsed by Noni Madueke at Arsenal this season because he doesn’t have the same explosive characteristics as his team-mate.

Madueke was the star of the show for England as they demolished Serbia 5-0 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night. The Arsenal winger was a constant threat for Thomas Tuchel’s side and scored his first Three Lions goal with a burst of pace and cool chipped finish to make it 2-0.

The 23-year-old completed a £52million transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal in the summer and is now trying to nail down a starting place in Mikel Arteta’s side. He can play on either wing and could deputise for Saka this weekend when they face Nottingham Forest, with his team-mate out with a hamstring injury.

Having made such an impression playing on the right wing for England – where Saka normally starts – Madueke has a chance to establish himself at club level too. Former Manchester United and Chelsea defender Paul Parker is convinced he will do just that because he has better raw ingredients than Saka.

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“Chelsea let Noni Madueke go to Arsenal even though he’s one of England’s best wingers, and he was probably their best player against Andorra. He came on when Arsenal were behind against Liverpool and I think he looked really positive. I thought it was a strange decision for Chelsea to let him go,” he told WhichBookie.

“With the way he plays, I actually think he’s better than Bukayo Saka. Saka doesn’t go on the outside, he doesn’t have a great change of pace and he doesn’t frighten defenders. Madueke does strike that fear into defenders because he wants to run at players and go past them.”

Parker was also heavily critical of Saka’s injury record, believing his elevated status at Arsenal allows him to pick and choose when he’s fit and when he’s unavailable. “The problem is that Saka is like a god to Arsenal fans,” he explained.

HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of Paul Parker's hot take? Comment below.

“He knows he’s going to play every game. We used to call Paul Ince ‘The 11th hour’, because, like Saka, he’d always be out injured until just before the game, then he’d declare himself fit. That makes everyone say, ‘oh isn’t he brave.’ Saka is the same.”

Parker has also already seen enough of Chelsea winger Estevao to declare him better than Saka, who has 71 goals and 71 assists in 265 games for Arsenal. Estevao joined Chelsea this summer from Palmeiras for £29m and the 18-year-old has one assist in three Premier League matches this season.

“I just don’t get the hype around him,” Parker continued on Saka. “I really don’t understand it. I wouldn’t take him over someone like Estevao at Chelsea. You’d rather take a chance on him because he’s got pace and, as a defender, you’re always worried about him getting in behind you.

“As a defender, you want things to happen in front of you and that’s what Saka does by cutting inside, while Estevao is willing to go both ways to beat his man.”

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