Bukayo Saka came off the bench to assist Eberechi Eze’s goal and score Arsenal’s third in a 3-0 Champions League win over Lille on Tuesday. The England forward had been urged by manager Mikel Arteta to score two or three goals per game, a target set to push him closer to the goal. Saka, who had been ill, did not reach that figure, but his impact was clear.
Arteta revealed before the match that he had adjusted Saka’s positioning to bring him nearer to goal. “That is where we need to get him,” the Spaniard said. “And if he misses the chance, so be it. At the end, the more volume we generate, the bigger the probability of him scoring more goals.”
Saka’s finish was a confident one-touch strike after he missed a late one-on-one chance in Arsenal’s 1-0 Premier League win over Leeds on Saturday. The 25-year-old has four goals in nine games this season and is appearing to take the next step in his role as Arsenal’s main attacking threat.
Opposition defenders have often doubled up on Saka over the past two seasons, during which injuries and doubts about his pace have clouded his influence. But Arteta’s tactical tweak appears to be paying off. “He has been getting in great positions, getting shots, getting one-touch finishes and tap-ins,” the manager added. “That is the kind of unpredictability we have with that player, otherwise we know how the opponent is going to defend him.”
Saka has scored 20 goals in a season once before, during the 2023-24 campaign when he netted 16 in the Premier League. His recent form for England has been strong as well, with five goals in his last four matches, including a brace in England’s 7-0 Nations League win over Croatia.
The winger now has 19 goals in major European competitions for Arsenal, trailing only Thierry Henry’s 42. His nine Champions League assists put him behind Henry (16) and Cesc Fàbregas (14). Saka declined to publicly share his personal targets but welcomed Arteta’s challenge to do more in front of goal.
Arteta said after the match: “I don’t know if that’s the case, but I am very happy. He wasn’t feeling that good yesterday and today, as he had some sort of illness. He wasn’t ready to start but he was really wanting to contribute to the team if it was needed and he came on and made a huge impact and delivered with real quality.”
The manager also recounted a candid moment after the press conference where he had publicly set high expectations for Saka. “After the press conference… I said ‘Bukayo, I just killed you in the press conference, good luck tomorrow’. He was laughing. He knows that we have discussed these kind of things and he takes it because he wants to be the best version of himself.”
Arteta added, “In order to do that, you have to put big objectives and challenges and try to reason by working and being consistent – and when it doesn’t work, keep going because he has the ability to do it.”
The manager made five changes from the side that beat Leeds. Noni Madueke shifted to the right wing, joining Mikel Merino, Eze, and Viktor Gyokeres in the starting XI. Eze, who had started only twice before in all competitions this season, scored his first goal for Arsenal with a composed finish for the second in this match. Arteta praised his attitude despite limited game time, calling it “phenomenal.”
Madueke had a mixed night. He displayed his ability to beat defenders but remained inconsistent in his final product, although he assisted Jurrien Timber’s opening goal. Timber’s finish was described as classy, opening the scoring in the first half.
Gyokeres struggled. The Sweden striker, who scored 21 goals last season as Arsenal secured their first league title in 22 years, touched the ball only 12 times before being replaced. Kai Havertz came on in his place and quickly showed why he remains a first-choice forward, setting up Saka’s goal.
Arteta introduced Saka, Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard after taking the lead. All three influenced the outcome, reinforcing their status as indispensable players for Arsenal’s ambitions this season.
According to Joy Online.
