Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka celebrates his second goal against Monaco
This is rapidly turning into Bukayo Saka’s most important season for Arsenal.
Two more goals for Arsenal’s No7 saw off Monaco and pushed Mikel Arteta’s men towards a top eight finish in the Champions League. And while all the talk has been about Arsenal’s injury list, the one player who they really would be lost without is Saka.
And this time they did not even need a set-piece. It was a night when Arsenal missed chance after chance, they were sloppy at times and their final ball was so often misplaced.
But when you are looking for ruthlessness then Saka is Arsenal’s guarantee. The England winger is so efficient, his decision making is world class and is also Arsenal’s jewel in the crown.
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While Mo Salah is Liverpool’s go-to man, Cole Palmer is Chelsea’s great entertainer, Saka is just the humble, down-to-earth superstar who has kept Arsenal’s season going. Where would they be without his goals and assists? Completely out of it. Martin Odegaard was a huge miss during his injury absence and they have had a patched-up defence for much of the season.
But Saka is just so consistent and reliable. Not only did he get two goals but it was his shot deflected in off a combination of Kai Havertz and Monaco captain Thilo Kehrer to really put a shine on the scoreline.
Arsenal are now up to third in the new-look format, a top eight finish means teams miss a play-off and go straight into the last 16 which will ease fixture congestion and Saka throughly deserves his place on the big stage. Arsenal were so wasteful early on. And it was poor Gabriel Jesus who could not find the net as he has not scored in the Premier League since January and his only goal this season came in the Carabao Cup at Preston.
Jesus’ first big chance came from Jakub Kiwior’s long ball over the top, the Arsenal No9 raced through and only had the Monaco keeper to beat but Radoslaw Majecki made a super save with his outstretched right foot. The second chance came after 28 minutes following good work by Gabriel Martinelli to set Jesus away again. This time, Monaco keeper Majecki denied Jesus not once but twice as he made a save at full stretch and then bravely blocked the rebound.
Bukayo Saka is now arguably Arsenal's most important player
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Image:
Getty Images)
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You were beginning to wonder where the goal would come from - and then Jesus showed even if he cannot score then he can turn provider. Myles Lewis-Skelly, making his first start in the Champions League, did excellent work in the build-up, then Jesus put over a low cross which was turned in by Saka.
You could sense the relief in the stadium and then Arsenal should have had more. Martin Odegaard went through only to fire wide. Martinelli missed another gilt-edged chance.
Arsenal should have been out of sight by half time. But they allowed Monaco back into the contest and striker Breel Embolo should have equalised only for him to fire just wide with a shot on the turn.
But Monaco ended up being the architects of their own downfall. They made an awful mix-up between Kehrer, keeper Majecki and Mohammed Salisu and, with substitute Havertz bearing down, the ball fell to Saka.
The England winger then curled a perfect shot into the far corner to show his teammates exactly how it is done. Saka was also involved in the third. Leandro Trossard put over a cross, Saka’s shot was deflected towards goal by Havertz with the final touch appearing to come off Kehrer.
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