Arsenal Vs Bournemouth: Bukayo Saka is special

Bukayo Saka produced yet another excellent display at left-back in Arsenal’s win over Bournemouth on Monday night. The 18-year-old really is special.

It took Bukayo Saka to notch another goal and assist. Despite playing almost half his games this season at left-back, he now has scored three goals and notched six assists. He also three matches with a goal and an assist, the only Arsenal player to achieve the feat this season.

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In all competitions, Saka is averaging 0.56 goals or assists per 90 minutes. That is veteran-level production, despite being only 18 years of age, playing out of position for eight of his 21 appearances, seven of those eight coming as a starter, and playing in his first season as a genuine member of the senior squad.

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Saka put in perhaps his best performance of the season on Monday night, ripping apart a hapless Bournemouth in the offensive-minded left-back role that head coach Mikel Arteta has carved out for him. His goal was terrific, hanging wide after Gabriel Martinelli, who he linked up with especially well with throughout, tucked inside, rifling his shot into the roof of the net, and his assist was equally aware, stretching the pitch horizontally once more before playing a pinpoint pass into Eddie Nketiah on the edge of the six-yard box.

After the match, Arteta was asked about Saka’s performance and the fact that he is producing such displays despite playing at left-back. Predictably, Arteta was glowing in his response, clearly enamoured with his young player’s development:

"“It is the situation now because we don’t have any left-backs at the moment. What I like is that he’s put his head down, it’s not his favourite position to play, but we try to adapt him with his qualities to play him as much as possible in the position that he likes. But then he is very willing to learn all the defensive principles that we are asking him to do and his attitude is really good.”"

His adaptation to playing left-back has been the most impressive aspect of his recent performance. He did not complain. He worked in training. He took on instruction from Arteta and the other coaches. He tuned his game as a result of the positional change and committed himself to bettering his performance.

The links he has developed with Martinelli are also beginning to pay off. The two combined superbly against Bournemouth. Their movement was intertwined, the passing crisp and accurate, and they were always looking to feed the other through-passes to get in behind the Bournemouth defence and cause problems.

It has always been rumoured that Saka might be the genuinely special young talent in the Hale End system. Well, now it is coming to pass. He really is a special talent and his future is bright indeed.