'Bukayo Saka is the best player in the Premier League this season

Bukayo Saka deserves to be crowned PFA Player of the Season ahead of Erling Haaland.

At least that is the view of former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna, who feels the Gunners star has been the "best player" in the division in this campaign.

Both Arsenal and City are vying for the title with 11 games left to play and a showdown fixture between the sides scheduled for April 26 - which could prove to be a decider. Saka and Haaland will each have a big say in whether their team lifts the trophy come May, but Sagna is in no two minds about who should collect the biggest individual honour.

“He [Saka]’s been the best player in the Premier League this season," the former full-back told The Games Cabin.

"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.”

Saka, 21, has been in scintillating form for the league leaders this season, chipping in with 10 goals towards their title charge whilst also providing nine assists for his teammates. That puts the winger inside the top 11 players for goals scored this season, and pits him second for assists, behind only City star Kevin De Bruyne who is three ahead.

However, his fiercest challenge to any Player of the Season accolades will no doubt come from Haaland, who has hit a mammoth 28 goals in 26 appearances in his first season in the Premier League. The Norwegian striker, also 21, has already broken the record for most goals by a City player in a single season following his five-goal haul against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

He could yet grab the most goals ever in a Premier League season, needing just six more to equal the record joint-held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. With 11 games to go, you'd be a fool to bet against him.

But while City were expected to challenge for the title, Arsenal's inspiring pursuit has come as a surprise, and Saka has been a revelation. Sagna 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.

"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.”