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Arsenal Vs Bournemouth: 5 things we learned – Welcome back, Eddie Nketiah

By Andrew Dowdeswell

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 27, 2020 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 27, 2020 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /
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BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 27: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal battles for possession with Harry Wilson of AFC Bournemouth during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 27, 2020 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 27: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal battles for possession with Harry Wilson of AFC Bournemouth during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 27, 2020 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

1. Bukayo Saka is special

It took four minutes for Bukayo Saka to notch his third goal of the season. It was a terrific move that ended with Saka smashing a clinical strike into the roof of the goal from a tight angle. 22 minutes later, he had his sixth assist of the season.

Pushing wide on the left, Saka stretched the Bournemouth defence, waited patiently for Joe Willock to find him after Eddie Nketiah’s neat layoff, before then finding Nketiah with an accurate cross to the edge of the penalty area that the Englishman duly converted. In 26 minutes, he had a goal and an assist.

That is now three matches that Saka has a goal and an assist in this season. He is the only Arsenal player to have done so this season. And Saka has spent much of the year playing at left-back, a testament to his commitment, game-intelligence, and attacking threat from out wide. At just 18, he already looks like one of the premier players on the pitch.

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Like many other young kids in the squad, he really is a special talent. Arsenal are very fortunate to have him.