Saka relishing ‘beautiful challenge’ as Arsenal take Premier League title race to the wire

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is loving the dramatic Premier League title race and is viewing it as a “beautiful challenge.”

The Gunners are set to take Manchester City to the wire and are hoping they slip up in the final three games of a nail-biting campaign.

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Saka came close to glory with his boyhood club last season, but the wheels fell off in North London during the final few weeks, handing City their third consecutive title.

Pep Guardiola’s side are now going for four in a row but are being given a run for their money by Arsenal, who are top of the table with two games left on their calendar – although City have a game in hand and could overtake them if they win it.

Saka has enjoyed another prolific year on the pitch, netting 16 goals in the Premier League and providing a further nine assists.

Speaking ahead of the crunch-clash at Manchester United this weekend, he said: “You can see it in two ways.

“You can either view it as frustrating or as a beautiful challenge. Everybody knows [City] are one of the best teams in the world, they have been on the top for the past five years, challenging for everything.

Two English midfielders lead the way for points scored this season 🔝

With Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka currently tied, who are you backing to come out on top? 🔵🔴#FPL pic.twitter.com/vkQhrqX4ET

— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) May 7, 2024

“So, for ourselves to be up there competing with them is good. We are pushing them the whole way and let’s see what happens.

“But we’re not getting frustrated, we see it as a challenge that we want to fight until the end. They have set a standard and it’s up to the rest of us to try to be better than them.”

Saka has been targeted by a lot of his opponents this season and can always be seen hobbling after a late challenge in almost every match.

But the England international is not phased by the rough treatment he gets and says his hunger to win helps him carry on getting back up.

He added: “It’s just the hunger to win that keeps me going — that’s why I keep getting up. It’s part of it. I feel like I’m physically much stronger than I was four or five years ago.

“I’ve got more experience now, in terms of knowing which tackles to go through and which ones to jump.

“If I stay on the floor, then it can disrupt the momentum we’ve built up, so I just try to get on with it.”