Prior to Arsenal's game against Newcastle United, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand declared Bukayo Saka was not a world-class player.
The Gunners star answered by scoring in his fifth successive Premier League game - making it seven goals across that period.
Saka now has 13 goals in the Premier League alone after twisting and turning and clipping into the bottom corner to score Arsenal's third in an eventual 4-1 win over the Magpies.
MORE: Bukayo Saka: How close is Arsenal star to being world's best winger?
In an interview after the match, Saka was asked about Ferdinand's criticism to which the winger smiled and said: "No comment."
Bukayo Saka ✨
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 25, 2024
The first Arsenal player in nine years to score in five successive Premier League games 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SctlHRFByL
Ferdinand had previously declared Saka has been 'unreal' but was still short of the level he considers to be world class.
"Listen, I think Saka’s been unreal. I actually think he needs a bit of a rest, so many games for a young kid," Ferdinand said on FIVE after Arsenal's win against West Ham on February 11.
"But I think, it’s almost like what is world-class? He hasn’t done it in the Champions League, has he? I’m talking in the nitty-gritty stages. Saka’s top, don’t get me wrong. He’s not world-class yet."
Ferdinand also claimed Saka previously winning England's player of the year does not mean the player can be considered among the word's best.
"The point about ‘oh, internationals’ and ‘he’s been the player of the year’, that’s great, you can be player of the year, no disrespect, but if you’re talking about that should be one of the things that makes him world-class… well, one of the past winners was Adam Lallana, a great player but wouldn’t be considered world-class because he’s won the player of the year," he said.
"Kalvin Phillips won it, are we considering him to be world-class? I’m just saying, to use the England player of the year as one of your arguments as to why he should be considered world-class, doesn’t stack up."
Since the start of the previous season, Saka has contributed to 45 goals in the Premier League, with only Erling Haaland (66) and Mohamed Salah (55) ahead of him.
Saka has 13 goals and seven assists in the league this season, while he also has three strikes and four assists in the Champions League.
