Bukayo Saka believes Arsenal’s Premier League title has finally silenced the skeptics, reflecting on how the club’s turnaround began from a “dark place” that left him moved enough to share an emotional message online in 2020.
The forward, now 24, shared a post that included the caption “You deserve more Arsenal fans,” paired with an image from six years ago showing him as a teenager, looking dejected on X. At the time, Arsenal were sitting 15th in the league table in December, having managed only four wins.
With the trophy now secured after a 22-year wait, Saka said the achievement has brought an end to years of mockery aimed at the North London club.
What Saka said
Saka told former Arsenal striker Ian Wright on Sky Sports: “I was in a dark place.” He added that he understood the work people have put into the club and how far Arsenal had to go after difficult stretches.
He explained that, at that point, the team felt “very low” and far from the standard he believes Arsenal should meet. Saka referenced the daily ridicule—schoolyard talk, social media banter and the way some people laughed at the club.
In his words, it was that moment of frustration that pushed him to publish the post. “That’s what I felt at that moment. But it’s done now. No more jokes, it’s our time.”
Saka also described lifting the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park as “surreal,” following Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the final match of the season.
He added that he spoke with Jurrien Timber at the time, saying, “We are standing in our dreams.”
Quick facts
- Saka said Arsenal’s Premier League win has shut down the doubters.
- His 2020 post was prompted by Arsenal’s tough period, when the club were 15th in December with four league wins.
- He described the trophy moment at Selhurst Park after a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace as “surreal.”
- Declan Rice said he told teammates, “It’s not done,” after Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City.
- Arsenal then won their remaining matches, while Manchester City finished seven points behind Arsenal.
Declan Rice, meanwhile, recounted the viral incident in which he urged his teammates to stay on course after Arsenal’s loss to Manchester City. He revealed that the setback proved to be the key turning point in the title race.
Rice’s firm message came after the defeat gave their title rivals a chance to narrow the gap. However, Arsenal responded in the strongest possible way, winning every fixture left on the calendar while City faltered, ultimately finishing seven points behind Mikel Arteta’s side.
Rice said he still believed, “100%,” because he took confidence from the City match. Still, the message was meant to steady the dressing room and keep everyone calm with five games remaining.
He stressed that it was not a final-day situation, and that once that City encounter was out of the way, the squad began to play with a freer mindset. “There was a little bit less pressure on us,” Rice said, adding that you could feel pressure had been present in their performances.
Rice concluded by saying Arsenal tried to block outside noise, but after the City game they reminded themselves there were five matches left and they could not afford to throw it away. “It was a strong message and it’s paid off,” he said.
