The 23-year-old winger, Bukayo Saka, played a pivotal role in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team as they decisively defeated Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Saka was instrumental in all three of Arsenal’s goals, assisting Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli before sealing the victory himself against Aaron Ramsdale in the final moments of the match. After the game, Saka marked the team’s success with a celebratory post on Instagram, showcasing his delight in both his personal performance and the team’s triumph.
In the post-match press conference, Mikel Arteta was asked to give his opinion on Saka’s display and his emerging leadership role within the team.
Mikel Arteta said, “He’s been in the team long enough to earn the right to have that [leadership] role. He believes in that. He has the capacity to change and decide games like many other players. No, I think it’s another step in what he wants. Especially when – do it at home, do it in big games, in not-so-big games, when the team needs him. That’s what defines a top, top player. There are the stats and you cannot get away from that and what he’s doing at his age is unbelievable.”
