Bukayo Saka seems to have finally come of age as the wonderkid continues to be Arsenal’s main attacking threat week in, week out under Mikel Arteta.
His exploits were on display recently at Emirates against league leaders Manchester City in a pulsating encounter that ended in the visitors’ favour, despite the 20-year-old’s individual heroics.
Saka sent the home supporters into a frenzy at the half-hour mark after finishing off a brilliant passage of play with a strike that went past Ederson and into the far corner.
Emboldened by the lead, Arsenal were on the prowl for another goal, with Saka invariably at the centre of many of the attacks.
Wary of the threat he possessed, City appeared ready to close Saka down, a game plan captured on an image that have since gone viral on social media.
The image in question shows the Arsenal forward on the attack close to the opposition’s box while being hounded by as many as seven City players.
Not only were the defenders on guard, but even forwards like Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne appeared to be on the chase, typifying the danger the 20-year presented to Guardiola’s men.
Becoming the norm. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/CmbnndrlTf
— TheAFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) January 1, 2022
Commenting on the image, one fan suggested it was “becoming a norm” to see Saka receive such treatment, otherwise meted out only to the game’s best.
Another fan made a sly remark about the same, implying Saka was actually marked by 8 players to include even the referee, also captured in the frame, who came in for plenty of stick following some contentious decisions.
With the home side down to 10 men after Gabriel’s dismissal, Arsenal lost their attacking mojo as City came from behind to score two goals, including a dramatic last-minute winner to snatch a victory from the snares of defeat.