Bukayo Saka’s Milestone Match
Bukayo Saka shared that club legend Thierry Henry reached out to him with a message on the morning of Arsenal’s triumphant 2-0 match against West Ham United. In this match, Saka aimed to mirror Henry’s impressive accomplishment. The talented 24-year-old took on the captain’s armband after Martin Ødegaard was sidelined due to injury in the first half.
Significant Achievements
This match marked a significant milestone for Saka, as it was his 200th appearance for Arsenal. Additionally, he became the second player in the club’s history, following in Henry’s footsteps, to score upon reaching this double-century mark, which he achieved by successfully converting a penalty kick.
“Thierry texted me to remind me that we had lost our last two home games against West Ham,” Saka recounted to Sky Sports following the victory. “His encouragement means a lot to me, and I’m thrilled to see my name alongside his records.”
Premier League Milestone
The Hale End academy product also celebrated another achievement by notching his 100th goal involvement in the Premier League after receiving a penalty awarded by Jurriën Timber. This milestone makes him the seventh youngest player in the league’s history to hit the century mark for goal contributions.
Manager’s Praise and Injury Concerns
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, praised Saka’s performance, calling his consistency and impact remarkable for someone of his age.
“He’s always eager to learn and develops ways to score. I’m excited to see how he continues to grow and enhance the team,”
Arteta expressed.
Despite the sweet victory, Arteta’s 300th match in charge was marred by a concerning injury to team captain Ødegaard, who exited the game just 30 minutes in due to a left knee issue. After the match, Arteta expressed his worries, stating that the prognosis for Ødegaard did not appear optimistic.
“It was a knee-on-knee collision with Martin, and right now it’s not looking very positive,”
Arteta explained, highlighting the team’s concerns as they navigate injuries during the season.
