Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praises Bukayo Saka for major change: 'That defines a top, top player'
Bukayo Saka contributed two assists and a goal as Arsenal came from behind to beat Southampton - and Mikel Arteta is delighted with the evolution of his game this season
by Felix Keith · The MirrorBukayo Saka is now producing match-winning moments when it matters most, according to Mikel Arteta.
Saka was Arsenal's star player on Saturday as they came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League. Cameron Archer gave the away side a surprise lead early in the second half before Saka led the fightback with two goals and an assist.
It was his pass from which Kai Havertz equalised after Flynn Downes surrendered possession and the Arsenal winger then crossed to the back post for Gabriel Martinelli to tap in for 2-1. Saints threatened to equalise on a few occasions before a mistake by Yukinari Sugawara allowed Saka the goal that his performance warranted late on.
“That’s the maturity and the steps that players have to do," Arteta said when asked about Saka's improvement this season. "He’s been long enough in the team now – he’s earned the right to have that role. He believes in that, he has the capacity to change games, decide games, like many other players. If you want to be at the top, players have to create those moments and he’s certainly done that today."
Asked if his recent performances should be considered 'normal', Arteta replied: “No, I think he’s another step ahead of where he was and especially when – do it at home, do it away, big games when the team needs him, not when it’s 3-0. That’s what defines a top top player.”
Saka is still only 23 years old but now has 61 goals and 60 assists in 236 games for Arsenal. Asked if we should disregard his youth, Arteta added: “There are the stats and you can’t get away from that, what he’s doing at his age. He’s unbelievable.”
The right-winger has started all 10 games for Arsenal across all competitions this season, as well as two Nations League matches for England. He now has three goals and seven assists for the Gunners and Arteta believes his form is such that resting him is out of the question.
Asked if he's been tempted to leave him on the bench this season, the Arsenal boss replied: “Yeah, there is and we have taken him off a couple of times this season. And we have to manage the load of him. But at the moment he’s in a good place.”
Arteta was also full of praise for Havertz, who has now scored seven goals in his last seven games at the Emirates Stadium. “He takes the ball, runs with the ball, he’s on high press, he goes full gas, the way he holds the ball up, the position he takes in the box," Arteta beamed. "He’s an attacking midfielder, he plays as a 9, you don’t know where he is. That’s his football brain. His focus now is ‘I’m going to win the game, I’m going to do it’ and that’s a different thing.
“He is [brimming with confidence]. He’s practising and he wants more. There is still another level from him. He’s surrounded by incredible players. Something has changed in him – that confidence, you really sense it and now he’s putting it into games and he’s winning football matches.”
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