Bukayo Saka continued his impressive form this season in Arsenal’s 4-0 rout of relegation-threatened Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
A FOURmidable team performance 🤩 pic.twitter.com/xLQ6yBvGtX
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 1, 2023
The 21-year-old Anglo-Nigerian was on the score sheet late in the first half before providing an assist for Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli shortly after.
Saka’s two goal involvement in the tie helped him become just the sixth-youngest player in Premier League history to reach 50 goals and assists. He joins a talented group of legends comprising of Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Robbie Fowler, Chris Sutton, and former Arsenal captain Cesc Fàbregas.
50 – Bukayo Saka has become the sixth-youngest player in Premier League history to reach 50 goals+assists in the competition, after Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Robbie Fowler, Cesc Fàbregas and Chris Sutton. Jewel. pic.twitter.com/JFRVnK4BX8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 1, 2023
The Hale End academy graduate has been the Gunners’ driving force in attack with his creativity, strength, pace, and eye for goal. His 10 league goals make him Arsenal’s second-leading scorer in the Premier League, while his nine assists make him their best provider, and he is just three behind Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne on the assists list this season.
Arsenal got off to a good start in the game against the Toffees as a fine pass from Oleksandr Zinchenko was finished off emphatically by Saka in the 40th minute. The Three Lions’ forward turned provider in first-half stoppage time, nicking the ball off Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye before playing Martinelli in on goal.
They made it three in the 71st minute through captain Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian rounded off a beautifully worked team goal from a Leandro Trossard cutback. The Gunners made it four almost exactly the same way, but this time Martinelli was on the receiving end of an Eddie Nketiah pass.
Mikel Arteta’s men completed their revenge over the Toffees to maintain their position at the top of the table, opening a five-point lead over second-placed City, while Everton remain in the relegation zone at 18th with 21 points.
The Gunners will welcome another relegation-threatened side in Bournemouth on Saturday, while Everton will visit the City Ground to battle Nottingham Forest.
