Bukayo Saka was able to make a difference for Arsenal against Manchester City on Sunday.
Bukayo Saka was only able to offer a threat for Arsenal in flashes against Manchester City.
In the first half at the Etihad Stadium, the Gunners were not able to get the talismanic winger, who wore the captain’s armband on the day in the absence of Martin Odegaard, on the ball as often as usual.
However, when the opportunity came for the Hale End academy graduate to deliver a corner just before the break, Saka delivered an inch-perfect ball to pick out Gabriel Magalhaes at the far post, and the Brazilian centre-back duly nodded the North London club ahead.
Due to Leandro Trossard being sent off on the stroke of half-time, though, Saka was substituted at the break as Mikel Arteta reshuffled his pack in order to adopt a more defensive gameplan.
Bukayo Saka matches Thierry Henry Arsenal record vs Man City
This assist for Gabriel’s goal meant that Saka has now recorded an assist in each of his five Premier League outings so far this season.
The 23-year-old has now become just the second Arsenal player to record an assist in each of the first five games of a new Premier League season since Thierry Henry achieved the feat in the 2004/05 campaign.
Saka is a talismanic figure at the Emirates Stadium, and this stat underlines his importance to the Gunners. Despite his relative youth, the England international has already racked up 232 appearances for the North London outfit, across all competitions. Saka has 59 goals and 58 assists to his name.
Saka creating Arsenal legacy
Saka is already well on his way to becoming an Arsenal legend.
His importance to Arteta can scarcely be overstated, and this is underlined by the fact that he is trusted to captain the team when Odegaard is unavailable.
Whilst Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has rightly been given credit for the Gunners’ proficiency in that department, Saka’s reliable delivery ought to also be praised. In almost all aspects of the game, he is capable of brilliance.
If Arsenal are to achieve their aims for this season, then it is vital that Saka is able to remain fit and firing on all cylinders.
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