Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand lauded Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, comparing his strength and unplayability to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah after Arsenal’s recent Premier League draw with Chelsea.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has drawn a significant comparison between Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, specifically praising the England international’s physical strength despite his size.
According to a report from the Daily Post, Ferdinand made the comments on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday. The match saw goals from Mikel Merino and Trevoh Chalobah.
Ferdinand highlighted Saka’s attacking threat when fully engaged, stating: “When Saka is on it, he looks unplayable.”
The comparison to Salah focused directly on Saka’s ability to retain the ball and withstand challenges from opponents.
Ferdinand explained: “He has got the strength like Mohamed Salah. He is small in frame and size when you look at him, but do you ever see him get pushed off the ball?”
He concluded by underscoring the resilience that makes Saka so difficult for defenders to manage: “You don’t really see people take the ball off him or put him on his arse. He is a strong little guy.”
The commentary suggests Ferdinand views Saka as possessing a crucial, often underestimated attribute—exceptional body strength—that mirrors the capabilities of the Premier League’s Egyptian scoring phenomenon.