Darren Bent Unravels the problem Cole Palmer has now caused for Bukayo Saka
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Cole Palmer vs. Bukayo Saka: A Premier League Comparison
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka have both established themselves as two of the brightest talents in the Premier League this season. Both players have started the campaign in incredible form, with Palmer contributing 11 goal involvements in just seven Premier League matches, while Saka has registered nine in the same number of appearances.
Their performances have been instrumental in their respective teams’ early successes, with Chelsea sitting fourth in the league table with 14 points and Arsenal slightly ahead in third with 17 points.
Darren Bent’s Take on Palmer and Saka
When discussing Palmer and Saka, Darren Bent believes the Chelsea star has set a “ridiculously high” standard. Bent went as far as to claim that Palmer possesses more “natural ability” than Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, but he stopped short of declaring Palmer better than Saka.
Bent did, however, suggest that Palmer’s incredible start to the season, playing at a “nine-out-of-10” level, has made Saka’s consistently strong performances seem less impressive to some observers. He explained this on talkSPORT:
“It’s very much the here and now… Saka has been at such a high level for so long that people almost take it for granted. Palmer has had a breakout year and a great start to this season, and people are already saying he must be better than Saka. But let’s not forget, Saka’s been doing this for three years.”
Who’s Better: Palmer or Saka?
When looking strictly at the numbers, Palmer has outperformed Saka this season and even last year. In his 33 Premier League appearances for Chelsea last season, Palmer scored an impressive 22 goals and provided 11 assists. Saka, in comparison, recorded 16 goals and 9 assists for Arsenal, despite playing more matches.
This season, Palmer made headlines when he scored four goals in a single Premier League match, a feat he has now achieved twice since joining Chelsea from Manchester City. Saka, on the other hand, continues to deliver consistent performances but hasn’t quite hit those same heights.
A Matter of Longevity vs. Immediate Impact
As Bent pointed out, Saka has been at the top level for a longer period, and many still feel Palmer needs to prove himself over a more extended period to be considered truly elite. However, Chelsea fans have already embraced Palmer as a game-winner, crediting him with turning the tide for their team in many matches over the last year.
Looking at the past 12 months, it’s hard to argue that Palmer hasn’t been the better player in terms of form and output. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca must feel incredibly fortunate to have a talent like Palmer at his disposal.
Ultimately, while Saka’s consistency over several seasons cannot be ignored, Palmer’s immediate impact since joining Chelsea makes this debate a close one, with both players offering their teams something special.
