Arsenal's Mikel Arteta praises Bukayo Saka 'Maturity' after stellar Saints showing

After his stellar showing against Southampton, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta feels like the time is now for Bukayo Saka to stamp his authority on the team.

As we have become accustomed to, when Arsenal are in need, up steps No. 7 and Bukayo Saka tore apart Southamption at the Emirates, much to the delight of Mikel Arteta.

The winger registered two assists before getting in on the goal-scoring himself with a well-taken effort in stoppage time to put an exclamation mark on yet another outstanding performance.

Saka's first pass to Kai Havertz was beautifully weighted and the German took a touch before lashing home to bring the Gunners level. His second was a delicious lob to the back post to find an onrushing Gabriel Martinelli and the Brazilian tapped home from close range.

Such was Bukayo's performance, Arteta detailed that is the kind of maturity the winger is playing with now.

"That’s the maturity and the steps that players have to do," Arteta said via arsenal.com. "He’s been long enough in the team now, he’s earned the right to have that role, he believes in that. He has the capacity to change games, to decide games, like many other players. If you want to be at the top, sometimes players have to create those moments and he's certainly done that today."

It is now becoming a regular occurrence for Saka, and especially this season, he has taken his game to a new level, which seemed impossible based on what we have already seen in his short career.

For Arteta, Saka's efforts against Southampton is another indication of his progression to becoming one of the best in the world.

"It’s another step ahead in what he wants, especially when," Arteta added. "Do it at home, do it away, do it in big games, do it in some other games, when the team needs it, not when it’s 3-0 - that’s what defines a top, top player."

The Gunners again needed their No. 7 to answer the call when they were struggling, and he put them on his back and carried them to yet another win.

Something that seems to fit him rather well.

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