Bukayo Saka Is on Another Level - 10 Assists in the Premier League

There's something special happening at Arsenal, and at the heart of it is our 23-year-old phenomenon, Bukayo Saka. After another masterclass with three goal involvements today, I'm convinced we're watching the continuous evolution of one of football's most exciting talents.

What's remarkable about Saka isn't just his raw talent – it's his constant improvement. Every season, every week, he seems to add new dimensions to his game. He's mastered the art of varied attacking play, combining strength, pace, and – something that's particularly caught my eye recently – a newfound spikiness to his game. Today, we saw him getting in West Ham players' faces, even picking up a yellow card for his troubles. Gone are the days of the quiet kid; gone too are the jokes about him going down too easily. In the past week alone, we've watched three different teams try to double up on him, and still come up short.

Breaking Free from Social Media's Comparison Trap

There's this frustrating cycle that plays out on social media – the endless comparisons to every emerging attacking talent. First, it was Grealish, then Palmer, Harvey Elliott, Garnacho... the list goes on. The constant debates about whether he should start for England, whether he's truly among Europe's elite – and every single time, Saka responds on the pitch, elevating his game to yet another level. Remember, we're talking about a 23-year-old here who delivers week in, week out.

The Numbers Don't Lie

The statistics tell their own story. Ten assists already this season, and we're only 12 games in. He's going toe-to-toe with Salah in the Premier League, becoming the first player to hit double-digit assists this season. In Arsenal's rich history, he's matching the early-season creativity of legends like Özil and Fabregas. He's even challenging Premier League records set by the likes of KDB and Henry.

This is what world-class players do – they dominate the tough games and feast on the easier ones. In just 12 appearances this season, Saka has racked up 15 goal involvements. Remember when Arteta said the world's best play every three days? Well, Saka's been doing exactly that for quite some time now.

Managing Minutes

I'm particularly pleased with how Arteta is managing Saka's minutes this season. We're used to seeing him complete 90 minutes regularly, sometimes running himself into the ground. This season? He's only played the full 90 seven times. And you know what? I'm not complaining, especially given the numbers he's still producing.

Beyond Saka: The Arsenal Machine

While Saka shone brightest today, he wasn't alone. Gabriel... my word. That skull of his must be made of vibranium or some goal-scoring metal. He's become the cornerstone of Set Piece FC, scoring headers with remarkable variety. We've netted 19 from corners in just two seasons – Jover has revolutionized our set-piece game. (Though I'm still waiting for that moment when everyone's so focused on Gabi that Trossard sneaks in with a near-post header!)

We're developing quite a habit against Lopetegui teams – 10 goals in two games. The 6-0 at the London Stadium follows our 5-0 against his Wolves side two seasons ago. If this becomes one of our annual happy hunting grounds, you won't hear me complaining.

Room for Improvement

However, there is one concern nagging at me: our tendency to hand initiative back to opponents. Going from 4-0 to 4-2 today showcased this issue. Yes, Emerson's free-kick was excellent (though the decision was questionable), but we've developed this annoying habit of letting games become frantic and losing control. We saw it against Sporting, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Liverpool. Even against Leicester, going from 2-0 to 2-2. It's a trait that wasn't present before and needs addressing before it undermines our progress.

Still, that's three wins from three now. United await us midweek – another game where we should be dominant. In the meantime, I'll be hoping City can do us a favor against Liverpool, who've also had quite the week themselves.