Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stated that the ability of Bukayo Saka from taking corner kicks is a “game changer”, Afrosport reports.
The 23-year-old England winger played the corner kick which led to an own goal by Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi deep in added time to give Arsenal a 3-2 lead before Kai Havertz put the icing on the cake for a 4-2 win.
It meant that Saka has provided an assist in all Arsenal’s Premier League games these season, some of them which have been from corner kicks, and Arteta wants to see continue.
“That’s not an extra, that’s a gamechanger. When he’s there in front of goal and he puts the ball in the back of the net, that’s a game changer,” the Spanish tactician said.
“That’s what he needs to do consistently at this level and the others have to do other stuff, I think we generated 17 corners, we should have scored from others, we need every possible tool to be a threat all the time.”
Sensational Saka 🤩
A deserved August Player of the Month award for our Bukayo ❤️ pic.twitter.com/cbRWUpDj8F
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 29, 2024
Following the game, Saka was awarded with accolade for Arsenal Player of the Month for August while Havertz won the Goal of the Month.
Arsenal’s victory took them level on 14 points with title rivals Manchester City and are now one point behind new league leaders Liverpool.
Their next fixture is a Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
