Bukayo Saka scored a goal and set up another as Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 in the Champions League, responding to the challenge set by manager Mikel Arteta. The England forward came off the bench despite being unwell, assisted Eberechi Eze‘s strike that made it 2-0, and then rolled in his side’s third goal.
Arteta has told the forward he should aim to score “two or three” goals per game, reflecting his quality and the expectations placed on him. Saka did not reach that tally against the French visitors, but he 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.
Saka’s evolving role
Most of Arsenal’s attacking play runs through Saka, so he has long been an influential figure. Over the past two seasons, however, opposing defenders have doubled up on him and injuries have interrupted his progress, raising doubts about whether he could still deliver what was asked of him in attack or whether he had lost a yard of pace.
Arteta has adjusted Saka’s positioning this season, deliberately moving him closer to goal. Before the Lille match, the Arsenal boss said: “That is where we need to get him. 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.
“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.”
The manager added: “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.”
Records and form
Saka has reached 20 goals in a season only once for Arsenal, in the 2023-24 campaign, when he scored 16 in the Premier League. He has also been in good form for England, scoring five goals in his last four matches, including a double in the 7-0 Nations League win over Croatia during the recent international break.
In European competition, Saka has 19 goals for Arsenal, trailing only Thierry Henry (42). He has nine Champions League assists, placing him behind Henry (16) and Cesc Fabregas (14).
Saka has not disclosed the personal targets he has set himself, but Arteta welcomed his response to the message about getting more goals. “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 spoke privately with Saka after publicly stressing his desire for the winger to have a greater impact. “After the press conference… I said ‘Bukayo, I just killed you in the press conference, good luck tomorrow’,” Arteta recalled. “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,” the manager added. “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 the Leeds win as Arsenal prepare for 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 returned to the starting lineup.
Eze had started only two games in all competitions before the Lille match. 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 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 evening 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 has shown a 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 more natural fit for the Arsenal frontline and created Saka’s goal.
Arteta brought on Saka, Havertz and Martin Odegaard after Arsenal had taken a 1-0 lead, and all three made a contribution. They remain the first names on the teamsheet, and the Arsenal boss will rely heavily on them if the club is to win more honours this season.