Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is the best player in the Premier League this season NOT Erling Haaland, claims Gunners icon

FORMER Arsenal and Manchester City star Bacary Sagna insists that Bukayo Saka is the best player in the Premier League this season - not Erling Haaland.

Norwegian forward Haaland fired Manchester City into the Champions League last eight by netting FIVE times in just 35 minutes on Tuesday to take his incredible season tally to 39 goals in 35 games.

He now has an astonishing nine goals in the Champions League and became the fastest player to score 30 goals in the competition.

Haaland, 22, smashed Ruud van Nistelrooy's existing record of 34 games by achieving the scoring feat in a ridiculous 25 matches.

Saka’s goals tally of 11 does not match that of his City counterpart but the England international’s displays have been key to Arsenal’s rise to top spot, and he also has nine assists.

Sagna, who won the FA Cup with Arsenal and the League Cup with City, has no doubts that he should pip Haaland to this season’s biggest individual honour.

Speaking to The Games Cabin, the Frenchman said: “He [Saka]’s been the best player in the Premier League this season.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Erling Haaland is crowned PFA Player of the Year but up until now I don’t see any other player that’s had a bigger impact on their team than Bukayo.”

And on Saka, 21, the ex-full-back added: “Many of the players in Arsenal’s team deserve massive credit as they’ve been really solid but I believe the way that Bukayo has been improving, the way he’s been attacking, the way he’s been creating and scoring goals has been really important for the team.

BETTING SPECIAL - BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK

“Hopefully he can stay injury free.

“He’s very young, he’s going to improve, he’s a brilliant player already and I believe he has the greatest impact in this current Arsenal team.

“To have that consistency, game after game, has been absolutely fantastic.”