How a Goal and Assist Hero Almost Never Started the Southampton Game: Arteta’s Insight

By Danong

Bukayo Saka performed incredibly against Southampton, helping Arsenal win 3-1 and move on to the October international break.

After a sluggish first half, Southampton broke the deadlock early in the second against the run of play to take a one-goal lead. But Arsenal answered with three goals to seal a huge win at the Emirates Stadium.

Saka assisted Havertz for Arsenal's equaliser, after which he also produced a wonderful assist for Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal's second goal.

These two assists bring Arsenal #7's total to seven league assists this season. Overall, he now has 42 Premier League assists, surpassing Arsenal legend Robert Pires.

In addition to the assists, he had his name scribbled on the scoresheet for Arsenal's third goal of the game, which sealed the victory.

Arteta made some changes to the starting eleven which may have accounted for Arsenal's lack of firepower before the substitutions were made. One may even question whether Arteta ever considered resting Saka too.

Well, he said he thought about it, admitting, "Yeah, there is. We have taken him off a few times this season. We have to manage his load, but at the moment he’s in a really good place." 

A player of Saka's calibre is difficult to replace; he's the one the Gunners look to for moments of brilliance. Yes, we should monitor his workload, but Arteta can't afford to let him sit on the bench given the "speed" he's started this campaign at.

That said Bukayo Saka's game by numbers vs. Southampton:

15 touches in opp. box
8x possessions won 
7 chances created 
7 shots 
3 duels won 
2 fouls won 
2 shots on target 
2 assists 
1 goal 

He was incredible.