Mikel Arteta said Bukayo Saka’s goal contributions and maturity at such a young age is something difficult to find after he starred in Arsenal’s emphatic 5-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor.
It is now 11 goals in two games for an Arsenal side who have emerged from the Christmas criticism that they were wasteful in front of goal. They are now just two points off league leaders Liverpool, and should the title race come down to the finest of margins, Arsenal have also significantly increased their goal difference in recent weeks.
Among Arsenal’s standout performers was Saka, who bagged a brace and took his tally in the league to 12. Since the start of the 2021/22 season, only Saka and Mohamed Salah have registered 40+ goals and 30+ assists in the Premier League.
Saka’s efficiency and maturity in front of goal has come at the perfect time for Arsenal, and Arteta was full of praise for the young Englishman after another standout performance.
Arteta said: “We already see him (as a senior player) especially forward players, wingers with a level of consistency and numbers (he has) is something really strange to find, but it’s not a coincidence, that’s for sure.
“When you look at him every single day, the way he trains, the way he applies himself, the qualities that he has, and he can do more.”
When asked about the overall performance, Arteta said: Yes, obviously we want to dominate the game and play in the opponents’ half as much as possible.
“I think the threat, the purpose, the activity and the connections of the players at the moment is flowing and they really want it. We have momentum now and we have to maintain it.
“Now we leave the Premier League and go to Porto, we know it’s going to be a really tough environment and game to play again, and we just need to prepare well to go again and be ourselves.”
