Cucurella makes shocking comment on Bukayo Saka
Chelsea star Mark Cucurella made surprising comments about Arsenal striker Bukayo Saka after Sunday’s 1-1 draw.
Cucurella sends commendation to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. Cucurella, who was named man of the match by Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, produced a strong defensive display and brought down Saka before the Arsenal star left the game through injury.
Known for his disciplined defensive approach, Cucurella previously held Saka in the Euro-final, which is perhaps what Maresca had in mind for his team. Saka passed Cucurella several times, but the Chelsea defender was ultimately able to limit his impact.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Cucurella praised Saka’s talent and reflected on the intensity of the match.
“He’s a great player, we’ve played against each other a few times and I have a lot of respect for him,” Cucurella said. “It was a good fight, I tried to stay close to him and not give him space. We did everything we could for our team because we know he is a special talent.”
Saka’s early exit from the match brought on Gabriel Jesus, but Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli was more successful on the other wing. Martinelli, who takes on Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, was a bright spot for the Gunners and caught the eye of Neville, who hailed him as Arsenal’s star of the day.
Mikel Arteta has shown unwavering faith in Martinelli even during periods of inconsistency. The Brazilian’s confidence appears to have returned, giving Arsenal fans hope that he can feature regularly in the title challenge.
But as the points drop and the season progresses, the question remains whether Arsenal’s resurgence is too late to close the gap on the Premier League leaders.
