Bukayo Saka lays down Arsenal title marker with message to Liverpool and Man City

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has sent a clear statement to both Manchester City and Liverpool when asked if they can win the Premier League title this season.

Saka, 23, scored in a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night as the Gunners secured their first Champions League victory of the season. The young forward, who has stepped up as captain due to the absence of midfielder Martin Odegaard, feels as though Arsenal can end its 21-year wait for a league title and outclass both City and Liverpool.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on us but I do think this is the year," Saka said on CBS Sports. "I think we've been close the last two years and we're getting closer but this will hopefully be the year."

Saka's comments show the confidence Arsenal has this season, as in previous years players have deflected title talk and head coach Mikel Arteta has made a point of taking each game as it comes. But with 32 games still to come in the Premier League, Saka is already feeling optimistic.

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Arsenal were seconds away from landing the first punch in the title race when facing City on Sept. 22, when John Stones scored with the last kick of the game to salvage a 2-2 draw. Arsenal is tied in second with City and shares an identical record, with Liverpool leading the charge by a single point.

Liverpool is enjoying a fast start under new head coach Arne Slot and is expected to challenge alongside Arsenal and City. However, over the past two seasons, it's been Arsenal and City going head-to-head for the title, with the Manchester club consistently coming out on top.

Arsenal has improved drastically as they finished just two points behind City last season, after trailing by five points the previous year. They may not have left the Etihad Stadium with three points last month, but it was a major turning point.

City midfielder Rodri suffered an ACL injury in the game, ruling arguably their most important player out for the season. Tensions boiled over after the game, showing that Arsenal had got under City's skin for the first time.

Liverpool is yet to meet with Arsenal or City so far this season, but face the Gunners first when traveling to London on Oct. 27. Liverpool then hosts City on Dec. 1, and it remains to be seen whether the Reds can be genuine title contenders under Slot in his first season.

City boss Pep Guardiola doesn't have to say much after winning a record four-straight Premier League titles, and although Slot is happy to be leading the Premier League, he's reminded fans it's early in the season. Saka is the first member from all three teams to make a major statement, putting pressure on Arsenal to back it up.