Another Champions League night in North London ended, and the Gooners got to celebrate another victory for their favorite team. This time, the "Gunners" crushed their guests AS Monaco with a score of 3-0. In that victory, "Star Boy" Bukayo Saka left a strong mark with a double.
The win over AS Monaco was Saka's 21st appearance of the season. He currently has 9 goals and 12 assists. On average, Saka has contributed to goals in every match he has played since the start of the season. His 1 G/A per game efficiency is very good, not every winger in Europe can do it, comparable to top runners like Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid.
The more he plays, the more mature Saka shows himself to be, gradually escaping the label of a young talent who blooms early and fades quickly. If last season the spotlight belonged to Phil Foden, this season, Saka is becoming the most outstanding English star alongside Chelsea's Cole Palmer.
Since the start of last season, Saka has played 14 Champions League games and now has eight goals. Saka has only just turned 23 but this is already his sixth regular Premier League season, a very impressive achievement.
"It's a remarkable development. He never did such great things at the age of 17-19. Gradually, as he developed both physically and mentally, Saka was able to reach the intensity of 3 days/match at the highest level" - Mikel Arteta commented on his student.
For Saka to achieve the success he has today, Arteta's decisions on playing style and personnel play a huge role. If Saka were left alone to manage on the right wing, it would be difficult for this striker to achieve good results when the quality of the defense is increasingly improved.
Therefore, in the last 3 seasons, Arteta has assigned captain Martin Odegaard to play on the right to support Saka. With the help of the Norwegian midfielder, Saka has a partner to coordinate to escape the siege on the right wing. Not to mention, this way of playing also helps the English striker to have more space because Odegaard is also a magnet to attract the opponent's defense very well.
Among the current pure wingers in the Premier League, only Saka and Salah are the two who stand out on the right wing. However, Salah is getting old and is unlikely to stay at Liverpool after this season. Therefore, the title of "right wing king" is gradually belonging to Saka.
If Arsenal succeed this season by overthrowing Liverpool, that title will belong to Saka immediately without having to wait until Salah leaves Anfield.
