Arsenal’s reigning Player of the Season Bukayo Saka scored his 10th goal of the campaign against Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon, making history in the process
Video Unavailable
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s England quartet
Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal’s 2,000th Premier League goal at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon, drilling in a delightful left-footed strike on the edge of the box.
The 20-year-old’s moment of brilliance gave the Gunners a 1-0 lead against Aston Villa in their pursuit for Champions League football. Manager Mikel Arteta was without first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for the game after he picked up a knock in training.
Arsenal are just the third team to reach 2,000 goals since the Premier League’s inception in 1992. Manchester United have scored the most in the competition’s history – 2,176 – while Liverpool (2,002) broke the 2,000 barrier against Brighton earlier this month.
Saka now has 10 goals in all competitions this season – nine of which have come in the Premier League – having played 32 times. The 14-cap international is the club’s reigning Player of the Season and fans hope he will be Arsenal’s talisman for years to come.
“Saka has been a revelation, he and [Emile] Smith Rowe have been the main guys up front creating chances,” said Ray Parlour last November. The Arsenal legend added: “His movement, his runs off the ball, he’s got so much intelligence. He really can play anywhere.
“The England call up and playing regularly for England now has given him more belief. He can be anything he wants to be.
(
Image:
Getty Images)
Is Bukayo Saka Arsenal’s best player? Let us know in the comments below!
“If he can keep working hard, keep his feet on the ground – which I know he has done because I’ve met him a number of times, he’s a really humble guy and really wants to work – then he can be a massive player for Arsenal going forward, and for England in major competitions.”
Saka and three other Arsenal players were recently called up to the England squad for this month’s friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast. Emile Smith Rowe, Ben White and Ramsdale – who is set to miss out due to injury – were the other stars to get the nod.
“Very happy, I’m really happy, especially for the boys because they deserve to be there,” said Arteta on Friday.
“They work so hard and I know how much it means for them to represent their country, and as a club I think we have to be very proud that our players are in the frontline and being noticed. It’s been a long time since that happened so I think it’s a good sign.”
When asked why they’d been selected, Arteta replied: “Their efforts, how much they want it, obviously their quality, their ability, and then obviously what they’re doing performance wise to get the attention of the England manager [Gareth Southgate].”
Barring injury, Saka is expected to be included in Southgate’s squad for this year’s World Cup in Qatar. The tournament starts on November 21, with the draw set to take place in April. The final is pencilled in for December 18.
Read More
Read More
