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Bukayo Saka has proven himself as an elite talent, so how close is he to world class status? 

Bukayo Saka has proven himself as an elite talent, so how close is he to world class status? 

England’s 2-0 win over Ukraine at Wembley appeared just another day at the office for Buyako Saka, with the 21-year-old adding a goal and assist to his collection this season.

Saka, who is close to becoming the highest-paid Arsenal player on almost £15million-a-season, seems to have nailed down a spot in the England team, despite strong competition in wide areas, having started six of the last seven internationals. His only absence from the starting XI came when he was rested for the final group match of the World Cup against Wales.

The winger has increasing been viewed as one of England’s jewels, alongside Jude Bellingham, possessing both goals and creativity.

His form at club level has helped to drive Arsenals’ title challenge, which could also lead to individual honours with the winger expected to be a contender for the Player and Young Player of the Year gongs.

Saka has established him as one of Europe’s leading young players and prompted discussion about how high his ceiling could be. Sportsmail takes a look at how Saka compares to his peers across Europe based on data from the stats gurus at Delphlyx and the level he must aspire to reach.

Bukayo Saka continued his superb season with a goal and assist for England against Ukraine

Bukayo Saka continued his superb season with a goal and assist for England against Ukraine

Buyako Saka – 12 goals, 10 assists

No-one aged 21 and under has been able to match Saka’s output for goals and assists at club level during the season across Europe’s top leagues.

Saka became the first Premier League player this season to reach 10 goals and 10 assists earlier this month. The winger scored twice and then laid on Gabriel Martinelli’s strike against Crystal Palace to achieve the feat before the international break.

The Arsenal academy product became the youngest Gunner to do so in the process, with Cesc Fabregas having reached double figures for both at the age of 22.

Saka’s importance to Arsenal is highlighted by him having played 2,148 minutes in the Premier League this season, representing 96.47 per cent of the Gunners’ campaign.

His progress can be shown by a comparison to his performances last season, when he played 87.49 per cent of the time.

Saka became the first Premier League player this season to have 10 goals and assists

Saka became the first Premier League player this season to have 10 goals and assists

This season (blue) Saka has shown an impressive improvement in his goals and assists

This season (blue) Saka has shown an impressive improvement in his goals and assists

The winger has shown his well-rounded game with high rankings for dribbles and crosses

The winger has shown his well-rounded game with high rankings for dribbles and crosses

Saka is now scoring more goals per game, despite posting a lower XG than he managed per 90 in the 2021-22 campaign. His creative output has jumped as he registers 0.25 assists per 90 minutes from an xA of 0.15, compared to 0.17 from 0.20. 

The majority of his attacking numbers are narrowly up, highlighting a gradual but sustainable improvement.

England boss Gareth Southgate believes Saka’s mentality has changed this season, suggesting the winger has become more ruthless as he seeks to become one of Europe’s top wide players.

‘I just think when he’s in front of goal now, he plays with real belief,’ Southgate said following England’s win over Ukraine. ‘That’s evident with his club and in his games with us.

‘You’re expecting him to score now when he goes through and that’s been a mentality shift as much as it’s anything technical, because he has always had the technique. I think he knows that to be a really top wide player you need the numbers for goals and assists and without a doubt he has delivered that all season.’

Goncalo Ramos – 16 goals, five assists

Portugal and Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos is the closest to matching Saka’s overall goal involvements among players aged 21 and under.

Unsurprisingly Ramos’ figures are heavily weighted towards goals, with the centre forward having notched 16 in 21 matches in the Portuguese top flight this season. 

Ramos’ predatory instincts have seen the Benfica star post an xG of 0.86 per match.

The 21-year-old registers 1.67 shots on target on average and converts one in four chances to highlight why he has been linked with a big money summer move to Manchester United.

A question would be whether Ramos can translate his goalscoring form to another league. 

Benfica's Goncalo Ramos is the next highest ranked young player for goal contributions

Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos is the next highest ranked young player for goal contributions

Ramos ranks impressively for expected goal and shots on target per ninety minutes

Ramos ranks impressively for expected goal and shots on target per ninety minutes

Jamal Musiala – 11 goals, eight assists

The Bayern Munich prodigy has continued to underline his enormous potential during the season, despite still being just 20-years-old.

The German international looks certain to join Saka in reaching double figures for goals and assists this campaign, with only two more assists required.

Only four players have scored more goals in the Bundesliga, while Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani edges him narrowly on assists.

Musiala has remarkably achieved his overall goal involvements from just 1,470 minutes in the Bundesliga during the 2022-23 season, 678 less than Saka.

The attacking midfielder’s boasts 0.44 and 0.25 xG and xA per match, while he records 0.92 successful key passes per 90 minutes for the reigning Bundesliga champions.

Jamal Musiala has 11 goals and eight assists in just 1,470 minutes in the Bundesliga this season

Jamal Musiala has 11 goals and eight assists in just 1,470 minutes in the Bundesliga this season

The 20-year-old has shown his importance to Bayern Munich's attack during the campaign

The 20-year-old has shown his importance to Bayern Munich’s attack during the campaign

Folarin Balogun – 17 goals, one assist

The on-loan Arsenal forward has shone in Ligue 1 this season for Reims, scoring 17 goals in 27 appearances for Will Still’s side.

Balogun’s haul has led to the forward being linked with a move to AC Milan should Arsenal opt to cash in during the summer.

His international future remains uncertain with the United States keen to secure him ahead of England.

Balogun has recorded 0.78 xG per ninety during the season, with the striker firing 1.57 shots on target on average.

Folarin Balogun has shone during his loan spell at Ligue 1 side Reims from Arsenal

Folarin Balogun has shone during his loan spell at Ligue 1 side Reims from Arsenal

Folarin Balogun registers high expected goals and shots on target per ninety minutes

Folarin Balogun registers high expected goals and shots on target per ninety minutes

Gabriel Martinelli – 13 goals, two assists

Arsenal are well represented in the top five with Gabriel Martinelli having been directly involved in 15 goals during the campaign.

The Brazilian has enjoyed a recent surge with six goals in as many Premier League games to give the Gunners an extra clinical edge.

Martinelli registers 0.24 xG and xA per match, while the forward ranks highly for touches in the box, progressive runs and dribbles.

With Martinelli operating on the left and Saka on the right, perhaps it is no surprise Arsenal have coped so impressively despite suffering injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah during the season.

Gabriel Martinelli's surge of six goals in as many games has boosted Arsenal's title hopes

Gabriel Martinelli’s surge of six goals in as many games has boosted Arsenal’s title hopes

Gabriel Martinelli ranks highly for touches in the box, progressive runs and dribbles

Gabriel Martinelli ranks highly for touches in the box, progressive runs and dribbles

Saka’s impressive goal and assist output can be charted against other attacking players across Europe per minutes played.

The Arsenal star’s goal contributions stand out when assessing players aged 21 and under who have played over 800 minutes in the top five European leagues this season.

Atlanta’s Rasmus Hojlund and Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko are among the youthful crop whose goalscoring exploits are notable, while Musiala appears in a league of his own.

When expanded to include the game’s established elite, who have played 1,400 minutes, Saka compares closely to AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann for the number of goals and assists each match.

Largely only Europe’s leading names such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are among those still a level.

Saka, orange, ranks impressively among players aged 21 and under for attacking output

Saka, orange, ranks impressively among players aged 21 and under for attacking output

Saka, orange, compares closely to Rafael Leao and Antoine Griezmann's output this season

Saka, orange, compares closely to Rafael Leao and Antoine Griezmann’s output this season

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