Bukayo Saka: “Winning Ballon d’Or is a dream, but my focus is on winning titles with Arsenal”
Bukayo Saka has made it clear that personal accolades such as the Ballon d’Or remain secondary to his desire to bring silverware to Arsenal.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of a critical stretch in the Gunners’ season, the 23-year-old reiterated that his focus is fixed on collective achievements rather than individual glory.
“Winning the Ballon d’Or is a dream,” Saka admitted, “but my focus is on winning titles with Arsenal. The main focus is on winning here, everything else will come after that.”
His remarks come at a time when Arsenal are battling on multiple fronts and need their star winger operating at his best.Saka’s team-first mentality is emblematic of the culture Mikel Arteta has tried to cultivate at the Emirates.
Despite enduring a three-month layoff earlier in the campaign due to a hamstring injury, Saka has remained a vital figure in Arsenal’s push for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.
In addition to domestic matters, Saka also had praise for Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, who recently became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final. “Lamine Yamal? He is unreal,” Saka said. “In my life, I have never seen this level of football from a 17-year-old. What can we say about what he does… it’s amazing.”
While attention now turns to Bournemouth in the league, Arsenal’s upcoming second-leg showdown with Paris Saint-Germain looms large. The Gunners trail 1-0 from the first leg, and Saka knows a significant improvement will be required in Paris.
However, he remained tight-lipped when asked about the team’s plans for the rematch. “I’m not telling you big man, I’m not telling you,” he said with a grin.
Saka did acknowledge the quality of the opposition, admitting PSG delivered their best performance of the season. “100% they were like a different team,” he said. “They only changed two players from the lineup against us previously, but the cohesion, the way they move the ball, they impressed me to be fair.”
Despite the setback, Saka remains optimistic. “It’s important to stay calm. We know we have another level to go, and I think we’re going to show it in Paris. I’m confident we can turn it around.”
His belief will be crucial as Arsenal attempt to reach their first Champions League final since 2006.
