'I'll be honest with you' - Arsenal legend Thierry Henry admits he doubted Bukayo Saka's potential as Gunners star comes up clutch again against PSG

Wearing the captain's armband in Martin Odegaard's absence, Saka was instrumental in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League. The England international scored the second of the night and also performed his defensive duties with diligence in what was a standout overall performance at the Emirates on Tuesday evening.

Saka’s journey with Arsenal began when he joined the club’s Hale End academy at the age of seven. Over the years, he has remained loyal to the north London club, spending his entire first-team career with the Gunners.

During the Champions League show at CBS Sports, Henry reflected on Saka’s remarkable rise and shared that he had not initially envisioned the forward reaching such heights.

"I saw him at the academy and I didn’t think he would be that good, I’ll be honest with you,” Henry said. "I saw him at the academy and I didn’t think he would be that good, I’ll be honest with you. But when you work, you have that work ethic, you have a good family behind you, cause I know the family, he is clever, he works well. I really saw a player reaching his level, because right now he is at a level, hard to arrive. He has been there for almost three years if I am being honest."

The Arsenal legend further highlighted Saka’s selflessness and dedication, attributes that have earned him a reputation as one of the Premier League's most reliable players.

He added: "At the European Championship (with England) they are asking him to play wing-back, he plays wing-back. He goes and defends for his right-back, he goes wide, he goes left, he goes behind, he does everything without complaining. He plays every single game. He played in the Carabao Cup, he played after the World Cup straight away in the first round of the FA Cup. It will be a dream for a full-back to have a guy like that in front of you, defending like that, going on the counter, he makes the job easier for everybody."

With the victory over PSG, Arsenal extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions to nine matches. The win against PSG saw Arsenal climb to eighth place in the group standings, giving them a crucial boost in their pursuit of European glory.

Arteta’s squad will look to carry this momentum forward when they return to Premier League action against Southampton. The match offers the Gunners an opportunity to extend their unbeaten run to ten games as they continue to challenge Manchester City and Liverpool for the English top-tier title.