Arsenal star Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring against West Ham
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring against West Ham (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka was sensational yet again for Arsenal as the Gunners smashed five past West Ham to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
The 23-year-old set up Gabriel and Leandro Trossard before smashing a penalty past Lukasz Fabianski to ensure the away side came away from London Stadium with all three points. It means Saka has now been involved in 18 goals in 18 appearances for Arsenal this season, with the Englishman scoring seven and setting up a further 11.
“Incredible,” Mikel Arteta said when asked to describe Saka’s form this campaign. “Because it is the hardest thing to do in football, so a player who can believe in those moments can impact the scoreline in that way, you know, the value of that is tremendous. Even if the opponent doesn’t know it, he continues to do it and that’s a credit to him.”
Following a weekend of action which saw Liverpool beat Manchester City 2-0, Arsenal are in second place in the Premier League and nine points behind Arne Slot’s side. The Gunners appear to be finding form at just the right time, with an extremely busy December to come.
"We are in a great moment right now, but in football be on your toes and prepare the best possible way for tomorrow,” Arteta said. “Because it is so competitive this league, the opposition that we’re playing every three days, that’s the only thing that you can do. We can analyse a lot of things to improve today, again tomorrow.”
Arsenal welcome Manchester United to Emirates Stadium on Wednesday and also face Fulham, Everton, Crystal Palace and Ipswich in December. While Saka has undoubtedly been Arsenal’s star man this season, the Hale Ender could well miss one of those aforementioned fixtures if he’s not careful.
Saka picked up his third yellow card of the campaign against West Ham on Saturday, taking his tally to three. According to Premier League rules, players who receive a total of five yellow cards in their first 19 matches will be given a one-match suspension. The Gunners’ 19th game of the season is against Brentford on New Year’s Day.
So, if Saka was to pick up a yellow card against Man Utd on Wednesday and then another against Fulham on Sunday, he would miss the clash against Everton on Sunday, December 14. Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, has already picked up four yellow cards this season so is just one more booking away from a one-match suspension. The other Arsenal stars walking a suspension tightrope are Jorginho and Jurrien Timber, with the duo on three yellow cards for the season.
In an ideal scenario Jesus, Saka, Jorginho and Timber will not pick up any more bookings between now and the clash against Brentford on January 1. In the Premier League, though, that is easier said than done.
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