Bukayo Saka scored a goal and registered an assist as Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 in the Champions League, responding to the challenge set by manager Mikel Arteta to become a game-changer.
The England forward has been told he should aim to score “two or three” goals per game, such is his quality and the expectation from his boss. Saka did not reach that tally against the French visitors, but he shook off illness to come off the bench, assist Eberechi Eze‘s strike that made it 2-0, and then roll in his side’s 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 evolution as Arsenal’s key man.
Positioning change under the spotlight
With most of his side’s attacking play running through him, Saka has always been an influential figure. However, opposition defenders have been doubling up on him, and injury problems over the past two seasons raised doubts about whether he could still do what was asked of him in attack or had lost a yard of pace.
Arteta has tweaked Saka’s positioning this season and, before the Lille game, said the change was deliberate, designed to get him closer to goal.
“That is where we need to get him,” said the Arsenal 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 opportunity in Saturday’s Premier League win over Leeds.
“He has been getting in great positions, getting shots, getting one-touch finishes and tap-ins,” Arteta said. “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. But if he continues like that, we know.
“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 England form
Saka has reached 20 goals in a season just once in his Arsenal career, in the 2023-24 campaign, when he scored 16 in the Premier League. He has also been in strong goalscoring form for England, with five goals in his last four matches, including a double in the 7-0 Nations League win over Croatia in the recent round of internationals.
He is now on 19 goals in major European competitions for Arsenal, behind only Thierry Henry (42). He also has nine Champions League assists, placing him behind Henry (16) and Cesc Fabregas (14).
Saka has refused to disclose the targets he has set himself, but Arteta welcomed his response to the message to do more in front of goal. “I don’t know if that’s the case, but I am very happy,” the Spaniard said.
“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 also revealed he spoke to Saka after publicly outlining his desire for the player to have a greater impact.
“After the press conference… I said, ‘Bukayo, I just killed you in the press conference, good luck tomorrow’,” Arteta said. “He was laughing. He knows that we have discussed these kinds 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.”
Gyokeres struggles on a mixed night for fringe players
Arteta made five changes to the side that started the Leeds win, as the Gunners prepare to navigate 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 XI.
Eze had started just two games in all competitions before the Lille match, and Arteta had described his attitude as “phenomenal” despite a lack of 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 his ability to beat a defender, but questions remain over 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 overall last season, when Arsenal won the title for the first time in 22 years, and he showed his willingness to run and work hard. Against Lille, however, he had just 12 touches before being replaced. Kai Havertz, as he so often does, looked a much better and more natural fit for the Arsenal frontline, also teeing up Saka’s goal.
Arteta brought on Saka, Havertz and Martin Odegaard after Arsenal went 1-0 up, and all three made a contribution. They remain first names on the teamsheet, and the Arsenal boss will rely heavily on them if the club is to win more honours.