Bukayo Saka provided an insight into the Arsenal mood after their win over PSG.
Arsenal were able to record a comfortable 2-0 win over PSG in Tuesday night’s Champions League encounter at the Emirates Stadium.
With club captain Martin Odegaard still injured for this fixture, Bukayo Saka was handed the armband by Mikel Arteta.
The Hale End academy graduate was able to further mark the occasion with a goal. His first half free kick crept through a crowd of bodies to find the back of the net, doubling the Gunners’ advantage after Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz had combined already to provide an opener for the hosts.
Arteta will have been delighted with his side’s performance. Arsenal were brilliantly pragmatic against the French giants, clinical in the first half and secure in the second as they sought to protect their lead.
The Gunners did sit back somewhat after the break. This was partly due to PSG improving, but also likely to have been an energy saving measure, to an extent. Arteta’s side face a hectic fixture schedule this season, and the Spanish coach will want to see his players managing themselves through matches cautiously so as to avoid burning out.
Bukayo Saka makes Arsenal dressing room confession after PSG
Arsenal cannot afford to take their foot off the gas now. They will be back in action in the Premier League on Saturday when they will welcome Southampton to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners will be considered heavy favourites for this clash with the Saints, but they cannot afford to rest on their laurels or allow any sense of complacency to set in.
Saka has now indicated that there is no danger of Arsenal easing up. Speaking to Amazon Prime Video just after the final whistle against PSG, the 23-year-old said: “We just finished this game now, we’re already thinking about Southampton on the weekend. It’s so hard man, you can’t even drop points! We’ve got to be so focused.”
Arsenal face Premier League and Champions League balancing act
The margins at the top end of the Premier League are so tight that the smallest slip ups can cost a title. Arsenal have learned this lesson the hard way in each of the last two seasons and are clearly now determined not to repeat past mistakes.
Ally McCoist has tipped Arsenal for the Premier League title this season. If Arteta’s side are to achieve that aim, though, they will have to be incredibly consistent.
They also need to find a way to balance their domestic commitments with their Champions League schedule.
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