Arsenal heads will be down after the 1-1 draw against Brighton however, it was an occasion to remember for Bukayo Saka.
Mikel Arteta was left fuming as Declan Rice was sent off during the contest, seeing the direction of the game change dramatically.
Kai Havertz’s first half goal was cancelled out by Joao Pedro’s equaliser later in the game, with the points forced to be shared as Arsenal struggled to come back with 10 men.
Despite the hysteria that came from Rice’s dismissal and the points that were dropped on the day, there were some positives to take from the fixture.
The Premier League record that Bukayo Saka and Thierry Henry share
By setting up Havertz expertly, Bukayo Saka claimed his third assist of the season.
In only three appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, the winger has already notched up four goal contributions, with his assist against Brighton seeing him equal a 20-year record at Arsenal.
With his third assist from the opening three Premier League games, Saka became the first Arsenal player since Thierry Henry to complete such feat.
Saka has three more games to go if he is to break the Frenchman’s record, as Henry recorded an assist in each of Arsenal’s opening five league games in the 2004/05 campaign.
In true Henry fashion, the striker actually secured seven assists from his opening five games that season, also netting four goals.
Saka is getting better and better for Arsenal
The difference between Saka and Henry’s assist record at the start of the season is that Arteta’s ace is still just 22 years old.
At the time of setting his record, Arsenal’s record goalscorer was 27 and very much in his prime, telling of the levels that Saka is already showing early into his career.
The Hale End product has gone from strength to strength since being unveiled in the first team by Unai Emery, with plenty to come from the winger.
Saka’s display against Brighton saw him shine brighter than any of his teammates, showing an unplayable approach in the first half, where he terrorised Jack Hinshelwood.
It’s a shame that the forward couldn’t cap off his performance with a win, on what was a frustrating afternoon for the Gunners.
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