The 2023/24 season has been one of both progress and missed chances for Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. Since Rice joined Mikel Arteta’s squad last summer, Arsenal came tantalisingly close to clinching the Premier League title, an achievement that has continued to elude them.
While their domestic league hopes were high, Arsenal’s pursuit of the Champions League title ended in disappointment at the quarter-final stage, underscoring the squad’s relative inexperience at the highest levels of European football.
Saka, Rice, and Aaron Ramsdale also experienced heartbreak with England, finishing as runners-up at the Euros after a hard-fought final against Spain, echoing Manchester City’s dominance back home.
Despite these setbacks, there remains optimism among the Arsenal stars. They believe in their ability to capture the silverware that their talent warrants in the upcoming season.
Following England’s loss in the Euros final, Bukayo Saka took to Instagram to express his emotions and gratitude to his supporters. He posted a poignant photo of himself alongside the Euro 2024 trophy, which narrowly eluded England’s grasp, accompanied by a heartfelt message.
“It’s hard to put into words how I’m feeling right now. But to all the fans, thank you for your incredible support throughout the tournament. You followed us across Germany and showed us love everywhere we went. We really appreciate you.
There’s no better feeling than playing for our country at these tournaments and it’s even more special playing with a group like this. We all believe we’re on the right track and we’ll get there together. Thank you all again and see you soon.”
Saka’s post garnered a flood of responses, a testament to his popularity both at club and international levels. His current and former Arsenal teammates, including David Luiz and Declan Rice, showed their support. Luiz commented, “Proud of you,” while Rice simply left a heart emoji, reflecting the camaraderie among the club and country teammates
