Emmanuel Petit Names Bukayo Saka as the Key to Arsenal Winning the Premier League and Champions League

Former Arsenal midfielder and 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit has identified Bukayo Saka as the player most capable of determining whether the Gunners secure both the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League trophy before the season concludes.

Petit drew a direct connection between Saka’s prolonged absence — which coincided with that of captain Martin Ødegaard — and Arsenal’s recent dip in form. To illustrate the scale of the loss, he compared it to Manchester City being forced to operate without Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva simultaneously, underlining how dependent elite teams can become on their most influential figures.

“We can see now how badly Saka was missed; his return might be what wins Arsenal the Premier League and the Champions League,” Petit said.

With the Gunners now entering the final weeks of the campaign, Petit praised manager Mikel Arteta for handling Saka’s reintegration carefully, ensuring the England international is “physically fresh” ahead of a demanding run-in. Arsenal face three remaining Premier League fixtures and a Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, with Petit singling out the upcoming London derby against West Ham as the first major test of Saka’s restored influence, describing him as the “crucial” factor in that match.

Despite Arsenal having surrendered a nine-point lead and suffering a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in recent weeks, Petit expressed confidence that the Premier League title will ultimately be decided in North London’s favour. The Gunners have since returned to the top of the table following dropped points from City, and Petit pointed to the defending champions’ remaining fixtures — against Bournemouth, Brighton, and Aston Villa, all clubs performing well this season — as a potential obstacle to their title defence.

“I didn’t see City winning every single game,” Petit remarked, suggesting the final standings could come down to goal difference.

Arsenal’s route to the Champions League final included a semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid, a result that attracted criticism for the team’s defensive approach. Petit was dismissive of those concerns. “History will remember the trophies,” he said. While he acknowledged he would welcome both pieces of silverware, Petit indicated he would place greater personal value on the Premier League, given how long Arsenal have gone without winning the domestic title — their last top-flight championship came in the 2003-04 Invincibles season.

Arsenal’s current campaign represents one of their most serious title challenges in over two decades. Should they complete the double, it would mark the first time the club has won both the league and the Champions League in their history, adding considerable weight to the stakes attached to Saka’s fitness and form over the coming weeks.