Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Eintracht Frankfurt: 5 things we learned – Hello, Bukayo Saka

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal runs with the ball away from Kyle John of Everton during the Premier League 2 match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on August 23, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal runs with the ball away from Kyle John of Everton during the Premier League 2 match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on August 23, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Joe Willock
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Arsenal player Joe Willock in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on August 11, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

4. Joe Willock is a superstar

For the majority of the game, Joe Willock was the best player on the pitch. Starting in his now customary line-breaking central midfield position, which is very similar to the role that Frank Lampard made his own for Chelsea in a 4-3-3 shape, the 20-year-old was superb.

Willock struggled in the opening 20 minutes or so, Arsenal desperately looking for options to play forward, Willock unable to find space and get away from his marker. But as the game progressed, he sought out these pockets of space, received the ball with more regularity, and was excellently productive when he got it.

His goal was a little fortunate, admittedly, taking a huge deflection, but Willock teed up Aubameyang with an amazing driving run from deep and clever through-pass and showed a goalscoring acument with his late runs into the box. He completed all three of his dribble attempts, helped progress play in the second half, and pressed with terrific energy and impetus. Willock really is a superstar.