Bukayo Saka proved a game-changer as Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 in the Champions League, scoring a goal and providing an assist despite being unwell. He answered the challenge from manager Mikel Arteta, who has told the England forward he should aim to score “two or three” goals per game.
Saka did not reach that tally against the French visitors, but he came off the bench, shook off illness and set up Eberechi Eze’s strike that made it 2-0. He then rolled in the third goal himself. The 25-year-old has now scored four goals in nine games this season and appears to be taking the next step in his development as Arsenal’s key man.
Positioning change
Saka has always been influential, with most of his side’s attacking play running through him. However, opponents have been doubling up on him, and injury problems over the past two seasons raised doubts about whether he could still deliver in attack or had lost a yard of pace.
Arteta has tweaked Saka’s positioning this season to get him closer to goal, and he explained the reasoning before the Lille match. “That is where we need to get him,” said the Gunners boss. “And if he misses the chance, so be it. At the end, the more volume we generate, the bigger the probability of him scoring more goals.”
Saka’s strike against Lille was a confident one-touch finish, coming after he missed a late one-on-one chance in Saturday’s Premier League win over Leeds. Arteta praised the variety he brings to the attack.
“He has been getting in great positions, getting shots, getting one-touch finishes and tap-ins,” said Arteta. “That is the kind of unpredictability we have with that player, otherwise we know how the opponent is going to defend him. He is doing well – he could have had another four or five goals by now, easily.
“When he talks about scoring a certain amount of goals, he needs to be thinking about scoring a certain amount of goals per game. If that shifts, that mentality, he will get into those positions and score more goals.”
Record and form
Saka has reached 20 goals in a season only once in his Arsenal career, in the 2023-24 campaign, when he scored 16 in the Premier League. He has also been in fine goalscoring form for England, netting five in his last four matches, including a double in the 7-0 Nations League win over Croatia during the recent internationals.
He now has 19 goals in major European competitions for Arsenal, trailing only Thierry Henry (42). He also has nine Champions League assists, behind Henry (16) and Cesc Fabregas (14).
Saka has not revealed the targets he has set himself, but Arteta welcomed his response to the call to do more in front of goal. “I don’t know if that’s the case, but I am very happy,” said Arteta.
“He wasn’t feeling that good yesterday and today, as he had some sort of illness. He wasn’t ready to start but he was really wanting to contribute to the team if it was needed and he came on and made a huge impact and delivered with real quality.”
Arteta said he spoke to Saka after raising the issue with the media. “After the press conference… I said ‘Bukayo, I just killed you in the press conference, good luck tomorrow’. He was laughing. He knows that we have discussed these kind of things and he takes it because he wants to be the best version of himself.
“In order to do that, you have to put big objectives and challenges and try to reason by working and being consistent – and when it doesn’t work, keep going because he has the ability to do it.”
Changes and fringe players
Arteta made five changes to the side that started against Leeds, as Arsenal face six matches in all competitions this month. Noni Madueke moved to the right wing after a good performance on the left at the weekend, while Mikel Merino, Eze and Viktor Gyokeres all came into the starting line-up.
Eze had started just two games in all competitions before the Lille match, and Arteta had described his attitude as “phenomenal” despite his limited game time. The 28-year-old showed flashes of his quality, and his finish for Arsenal’s second goal, his first of the season, should boost his confidence.
Madueke had a mixed night. He showed he can beat a defender, but questions remain about his end product, even though he provided the assist for Jurrien Timber’s classy opening goal.
It was not a good night for Gyokeres. The Sweden striker scored 21 goals in all competitions last season as Arsenal won the title for the first time in 22 years, and he showed his willingness to run and work hard. This time, however, he had just 12 touches before being replaced. Kai Havertz, as he so often does, looked a much more natural fit for the Arsenal frontline and set up Saka’s goal too.
Arteta brought on Saka, Havertz and Martin Odegaard after Arsenal went 1-0 up, and all three made a contribution. They remain the first names on the teamsheet, and Arteta will rely heavily on them if Arsenal are to win more honours this season.