There is something almost surgical about the way Bukayo Saka impacts matches.
His approach is not necessarily flashy, but it is clinically efficient and his displays continue to lay the foundation for Arsenal’s third successive title challenge under Mikel Arteta.
Saka’s two assists in the 3-1 win over Southampton took his tally to seven in as many Premier League matches this season. His best return for assists in a season is 14 in all competitions (2023-24) and 11 in the league (2022-23). His Arsenal record was satisfyingly symmetrical at 60 goals and 60 assists before adding a late goal of his own, his 61st for the club. More important than the sheer volume of goal contributions, however, is the manner in which he is going about his business.
Take Arsenal’s equaliser. After sticking out his right leg to intercept a Flynn Downes pass in midfield, the intent behind his next action was clear. Just two seconds later his left-footed pass was in Kai Havertz’s path for the German to equalise. There was no second-guessing. The same could be said when he received the ball 10 minutes later on the wing; there were three gentle touches before he dropped a shoulder, cut in and whipped over a cross to the back post for Gabriel Martinelli to convert.
The 23-year-old was wearing the captain’s armband, taking it from the substituted Jorginho, by the time he was applying his first-time finish to round off the scoring. It was the fourth time he had worn it in two weeks, with his acceptance of the responsibility both with the ball at his feet and the cloth on his arm a new stage in his evolution according to Arteta.
“That’s the maturity and steps players have to do,” the Arsenal manager said in his post-match press conference. “He’s been in the team long enough to earn the right to have that role. He believes in that. He has the capacity to change and decide games. If we want to be at the top — sometimes players have to create those moments and he’s certainly done that again today.
“No (it’s not the same Saka as before), I think it’s another step in what he wants. (To) do it at home, do it big games, in not so big games, when the team needs him. That’s what defines a top, top player.”
The single-mindedness of Saka was still on show once the turnaround had been completed.
At 2-1 Leandro Trossard, who had replaced Gabriel Jesus, did incredibly well to keep the ball under pressure inside the Southampton box before laying it off to his No 7. A stepover onto his right foot took Saka back into the penalty area before he cut onto his left foot. He then feigned to shoot, with Ryan Manning throwing himself to the floor to block. There was another touch with his right to set himself before the winger fired off a shot which, having been deflected en route, Aaron Ramsdale did well to save. For all the feints and cuts, there was no doubt every decision Saka made in that moment had a purpose.
It was in stark contrast to the play that had hindered Arsenal through periods of Saturday’s contest.
Midway through the first half both Jesus and Declan Rice were guilty of overcomplicating matters. Jesus passing the ball when in shooting positions and then failing to spot passes when on the break wasted good opportunities. As for Rice, a moment when he ran in behind but decided to wait for an obvious challenge which resulted in a corner instead of putting in a cross seemed unusual — even with Arsenal’s strength from set pieces.
Those split-second decisions require the clarity of thought that comes with confidence. All three of Arteta’s initial substitutes — Trossard, Martinelli and Mikel Merino — displayed this in their application with and without the ball, but other than Saka, Havertz is the player that typifies this most.
The German’s goal saw him become the first player to score in seven consecutive home appearances for Arsenal in all competitions since Robin van Persie — a run of seven between December 2011-March 2012.
Having the presence of mind to let Saka’s pass run across his body, belt in his finish and then go straight back for the restart showed where his mind was at, but it was not the only moment that demonstrated his confidence.
“He takes the ball and he runs with the ball,” Arteta added. “He goes full gas in the high press, he holds the ball. He’s an attacking midfielder, he’s a nine; you don’t know where he is. That’s his football brain. For sure, his focus is: ‘I’m gonna win the game, I’m gonna do it’. That’s a different thing.
“He is (confident) and he’s practising every day because he wants more. He’s not satisfied. There is still another level from him. He’s surrounded by incredible players but something has changed in him. You really sense that confidence in him. Now he’s putting it in games and he’s winning football matches, which is great.”
Opponents not knowing where Havertz is has been particularly beneficial for Arsenal this year. It is what makes his partnership with Trossard work so well, and was encouraging to see without the Belgian on the pitch as he drifted out to the right to combine with Saka.
Those driving runs, his goal, and then the fantastic strength and flicks to hold the ball up in added time are all making the difference.
This was not Arsenal’s most cohesive performance, but that is often when clarity, confidence and a single-mindedness is needed most from key players. It has got them through one of their trickier periods of the season on paper with five wins and two draws. For those on the periphery who failed to take their chance, it should serve as an example of what is needed to maintain this momentum.
(Top photo: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
