Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has corrected claims that he copied Thierry Henry’s celebration against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
The winger played a central role in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, for both good and bad reasons.
The bad came early on as Saka missed a penalty that could’ve given his side the lead in the match and put them four goals clear.
He did redeem himself, though, scoring an exquisite chip over Thibaut Courtois to give Arsenal the lead they desired.
In the end, Arsenal beat Real Madrid and booked themselves a place in the Champions League semi-final against PSG.
With Saka playing such a key role in reaching that point, plenty of focus has been put on him and comparisons with Thierry Henry.
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesBukayo Saka explains Thierry Henry celebration similarities during Real Madrid vs Arsenal
Bukayo Saka was one of the stars of the show as Arsenal beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, being a central figure in the clash.
While he missed a penalty, Saka was also in a clash with Dani Carvajal on the touchline, getting himself into the thick of the action.
The winger’s goal that followed came with a celebration that looked familiar to many, shushing the Bernabeu crowd.
It drew similarities to Thierry Henry’s goal celebration against Real Madrid in 2006, where he also shushed the crowd.
Saka spoke about the situation afterwards to Henry himself and revealed that the celebration wasn’t actually meant to reflect the Arsenal legend.
He told CBS: “To be fair, not really you know [he wasn’t thinking of Henry when celebrating the goal].”
To which Henry seemed upset when reacting to the claim.
Saka continued: “I just wanted to have my own moment, but of course Thierry has done the same, so it’s nice we can both share this picture.”
“To be fair, not really you know… It’s nice we can both share this picture.” 😂@BukayoSaka87 wasn’t thinking of Thierry’s celebration when he shushed the crowd at the Bernabéu 😅 pic.twitter.com/CFBlNdhOR0
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 16, 2025
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It’s a nice comparison to have, with the pair now having their own Bernabeu moments to have for themselves.
Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty ImagesArsenal stars are writing their own history
One thing that Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal squad continually emphasised before the clash with Real Madrid was making their own history.
The Gunners have often been weighed down by their history and the impact of the players who came before them.
Thierry Henry hit such big heights on his own and any comparison can often weigh heavy on any individual.
However, the players are proving they are their own people and are making an impact by writing their own history.