Tusport - News - Rooney and Sturridge hail Saka as Arsenal’s best vs Atletico

Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge led the chorus of praise for Bukayo Saka after Arsenal’s tense victory over Atletico Madrid, calling the winger the Gunners’ standout performer on a night defined by pressure, precision and poise. In a high‑stakes European tie that demanded clarity of thought, Saka supplied the decisive moments and the composure to match them, scoring the breakthrough and relentlessly stretching Atletico’s back line. “You’re taking me away from the celebrations, man! It is so beautiful. You see what it means to us and what it means to the fans,” Saka said afterwards, still riding the adrenaline of a performance that pushed Arsenal into a final in Budapest. “Easier said than done. This game was a high‑pressure game. It means a lot to both sides. We managed to manage it well, and take ourselves to the final.” From the outset, Arsenal leaned on Saka’s energy on the right. He repeatedly received under contact, turned inside onto his left foot, and forced Atletico’s full-backs into recovery runs. His goal, a striker’s finish after arriving at the far post, reflected the instinct he referenced: “Sometimes it bounces for you, and sometimes it doesn’t, but you have to be there, and I was there – I got my goal.” Rooney highlighted the blend of maturity and daring in Saka’s display, praising his decision-making in transition and his willingness to take responsibility in the final third. Sturridge, speaking in a similar vein, lauded the England international’s timing of runs and his economy on the ball—traits that carry extra weight in knockout football. The atmosphere, Saka revealed, had been building long before kick-off. “It started before the game when we were arriving on the coach. I have never seen anything like it.” The streets were lined with supporters, a living reminder of the stakes and the shared journey. With that came pressure, and Saka did not pretend otherwise. “There is no way you are going to come to this position and not have pressure. How can you not expect people to talk about you and criticise you? That’s why we have got to block it out.” Tactically, Arsenal’s plan maximised Saka’s strengths: isolate a defender when possible, then combine quickly to break the next line. His work without the ball—pressing triggers, back-tracking to close passing lanes—was as important as his attacking output. Against an Atletico side content to compress space and wait for turnovers, Saka’s ability to keep the ball alive and win territory proved decisive. “It is a beautiful story and I hope it ends well in Budapest,” he concluded. If Arsenal are to write the final chapter the way they intend, their talisman on the right looks ready to author a few more key lines.