Bukayo Saka ignited Arsenal’s momentum on Saturday, leading to a convincing win over Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta praised Saka’s unwavering performance and intense desire to win after the 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal dominated Bournemouth with Saka scoring a penalty, and late goals from Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice securing another crucial win. With two games left, Arsenal has matched their win record from last season, the Gunners have rarely won more games in a single top-flight campaign.
Saka has been instrumental in Arsenal’s success, crossing the 20-goal season milestone for Arsenal for the first time since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2019-20. He is the first Englishman to reach this milestone since Theo Walcott in 2012-13. Arteta commended star winger Saka for his growth and dedication.
Kai Haverz earned Saka’s first-half penalty, although Bournemouth argued that Saka initiated contact with goalkeeper Mark Travers. The Cherries had a goal disallowed due to a foul before Antoine Semenyo tapped into an empty net. Arteta refrained from commenting on the incidents as he had not reviewed them yet.
Every Arsenal outfield player attempted a shot in this game, a rare occurrence for the Gunners since January 2022 against Burnley. Gabriel Magalhaes’ goal was disallowed for offside, but Rice sealed the dominant performance. Rice, who previously played for West Ham, is optimistic about Arsenal’s standing in the title race.
Arsenal looks forward to the challenge ahead, aiming for victories while hoping for Man City to stumble. They have had a successful run in 2024 with 14 wins out of 16 games, scoring 51 goals while conceding only eight. Despite their form, Arsenal still relies on other teams to aid their pursuit of the title.
