Saka answers Arteta's scoring challenge in 3-0 Lille win — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Bukayo Saka shook off illness to come off the bench in Arsenal's 3-0 Champions League win over Lille, assisting Eberechi Eze's strike and rolling in the third goal in response to Arteta's call for him to score 'two or three' per game.
- Saka has 4 goals in 9 games this season and now sits on 19 goals in major European competitions for Arsenal, behind only Thierry Henry's 42, with 9 Champions League assists trailing Henry (16) and Cesc Fabregas (14).
- Saka has reached 20 goals in a season once for Arsenal (2023-24, 16 in the Premier League) but is in strong England form with 5 goals in his last 4 internationals, including a double in the 7-0 Nations League demolition of Croatia.
- Mikel Arteta deliberately repositioned Saka closer to goal this season and joked with him after the press conference: 'Bukayo, I just killed you in the press conference, good luck tomorrow.'
- Viktor Gyokeres had just 12 touches before being substituted in a poor outing, despite scoring 21 goals across Arsenal's first title-winning campaign in 22 years last season, with the source noting Kai Havertz 'looked a much better and more natural fit' for the frontline.
- Eberechi Eze opened his Arsenal account with a confident finish for the second goal, while Noni Madueke provided the assist for Jurrien Timber's opener, as Arteta made five changes to the side that beat Leeds.
Why it matters: Arsenal face six matches this month while defending a first league title in 22 years, and Arteta has deliberately repositioned Saka closer to goal to extract more output from his most influential attacker. With Gyokeres limited to 12 touches before substitution, the bench core of Saka, Havertz and Odegaard again proved the difference-makers Arsenal cannot afford to lose.
Ask SkimNews
