Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal from a penalty
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal from a penalty
Bukayo Saka is walking in the footsteps of greatness - but Arsenal fans might want to be careful what they wish for.
Arsenal’s bewilderingly brilliant No 7 was the creative spark that lit up a victory that keeps the title race honest on a bonkers night at the London Stadium. Saka set-up two of the five goals that put Mikel Arteta’s men on an easy street stroll before half-time, won a penalty and also got himself on the scoresheet.
He now has 10 Premier League assists for the season to add to his five goals - and the England winger's stats are even more impressive when you take the Champions League into account. Saka has been involved in a goal for roug.hly every hour he’s played this season.
How he would love to become a Premier League champion after living through the agony of two successive near misses. Individual accolades are knocking as well.
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Premier League release statement on Bukayo Saka incident during West Ham vs Arsenal](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-arsenal-saka-west-ham-34222442)
The record assist tally for a single campaign in the Prem is held jointly by Gunners legend Thierry Henry and Manchester City’s mercurial force of creative nature Kevin De Bruyne. Both men were responsible for setting up 20 goals, Henry in 2002-03 and De Bruyne in 2019-20 - and yet neither Arsenal or City ended up as champions.
That won’t bother Saka or his army of admirers. History, of course, is always there for the making.
After stalling in the autumn, Arteta’s men are now clicking back into top gear with a smoothness that should prompt Liverpool to at least cast a concerned look into their rear-view mirror. Anything other than a Gunners win here might have prompted City to take the Premier League trophy to Anfield when they journey across the East Lancs Road. Minus the blue and white ribbons.
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Bukayo Saka
Arteta will no doubt be furious that his team’s performance was blighted slightly by the jolt of optimism West Ham experienced late in the first half when goals from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson had the Hammers’s fans dreaming of a comeback to end all comebacks.
Arsenal’s four-goal advantage was cut in half in the blink of an eye. How fitting it was that Saka should stamp out any ridiculous West Ham notions by scoring from the penalty spot just seconds before heading off for a richly-deserved half-time energy drink.
Arteta’s recruitment of set-piece Nicolas Jover has been a masterstroke. The pair worked together under Pep Guardiola in Manchester - and the Frenchman’s arrival at the Emirates has given the Gunners something akin to a cheat code.
It does help when you’ve got Saka delivering the ball from one flank and Declan Rice from the other. Martin Odegaard is also back to add some variety when required.
Then there’s the presence of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. The Brazilian and the Frenchman are as dangerous in opposition penalty areas as they are ruthless in their own.
Gabriel shook off Michail Antonio with all the effort of slipping out of a coat to head the visitors into a 10th-minute lead from Saka’s in-swinging 10th minute corner. Arsenal have now scored 28 goals from set-pieces since the start of last season. No wonder Jover was congratulated with the same enthusiasm by the rest of the backroom staff as Gabriel was by his team-mates.
Saka gave Leandro Trossard a chance he couldn't miss for the second goal after a sweet exchange of passes with Odegaard. And Lucas Paqueta’s clumsy trip on Saka then allowed Odegaard to find the bottom corner from the spot.
Two penalties in one game? Maybe Arsenal’s fans won’t be moaning about having a referee from Manchester this week. When Kai Havertz was sent clear by Trossard in the 36th minute to make it 4-0, huge swathes of home fans poured out to drown their sorrows with a pint.
Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui, sitting in the directors’ box because of a touchline ban, looked like a man in need of something stronger.
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