Saka Says This Is Arsenal’s Year after Back-to-Back Premier League Misses

Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka applauds the fans following during the UEFA Champions League football match between Arsenal and Paris St Germain (PSG) at the Emirates Stadium in north London on October 1, 2024. (AFP)
Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka applauds the fans following during the UEFA Champions League football match between Arsenal and Paris St Germain (PSG) at the Emirates Stadium in north London on October 1, 2024. (AFP)
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Saka Says This Is Arsenal’s Year after Back-to-Back Premier League Misses

Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka applauds the fans following during the UEFA Champions League football match between Arsenal and Paris St Germain (PSG) at the Emirates Stadium in north London on October 1, 2024. (AFP)
Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka applauds the fans following during the UEFA Champions League football match between Arsenal and Paris St Germain (PSG) at the Emirates Stadium in north London on October 1, 2024. (AFP)

Arsenal can go all the way and end their 21-year wait for a Premier League title this season, winger Bukayo Saka said after his side beat Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Arsenal finished runners-up in 2022-23 and took the Premier League title race to the final day last season before once again finishing second behind Manchester City.

The north London side are in the mix this season, sitting third in the league standings, and their impressive victory over French heavyweights PSG underlined their title credentials, with Kai Havertz and Saka scoring in the match.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on us, but I do think that this is the year (that we can win the title)," Saka told CBS Sports.

"I think we've been close the last two years and we're getting closer, but this hopefully will be the year."

Saka, who has established himself as a key player at Arsenal and was their top-scorer in the Premier League last season, said the club's near misses had left him hungry for success.

"Previous years, I've come runners-up a lot. It's just that spirit in me that I want to win this season and of course, I believe in myself a lot," the 23-year-old told Amazon Prime.

"With those two things, it helps. We believe in ourselves, we believe we're a top team. We showed that tonight (against PSG). I did tell the boys we have to make a statement when big teams are coming to the Emirates."

Arsenal next host 19th-placed Southampton in a league match on Saturday.



Saudi Ministers of Sport and Education Inaugurate 1st Sports School for Talented Athletes

The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. SPA
The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Ministers of Sport and Education Inaugurate 1st Sports School for Talented Athletes

The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. SPA
The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh. SPA

Minister of Sport and chairman of the Mahd Sports Academy's board of directors Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal and Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan inaugurated the first Government Sports School for Talented Athletes at the middle school level.

The groundbreaking partnership ceremony between the ministries and the academy was held at the academy's headquarters in Prince Faisal bin Fahad Olympic Complex in Riyadh.

Mahd Sports Academy President Abdullah bin Faisal Hammad outlined the academy's achievements since its establishment in 2021. He noted that the Sports School for Talented Athletes will build on the academy's successes and offer talented individuals both educational and sports training in one place.

These individuals will serve as role models for the sports sector, graduating with the knowledge and ambition to achieve championships and titles in future competitions.

He also disclosed that 354 talented individuals in football, athletics, and martial arts were enrolled in the first phase, and the academy aims to identify and nurture one million talents in various sports.

The academy aims to become a global leader in discovering sports talents through its research and innovation center.

Additionally, he highlighted the collaboration with the Ministry of Education on various programs, including the Tamheed program, which involves physical and technical assessments for students in public schools, enabling them to gather information and measurements for nearly half a million students.