Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta showered praise on Bukayo Saka following the Englishman’s performance in their 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
The Gunners made a good start in their bid to finally win the Premier League title as Saka netted a brilliant goal, while also setting up another for Kai Havertz in the first half.
Saka’s display earned him praise from his manager, who compared his goal to something players like Lionel Messi can deliver.
“Bukayo had an unbelievable action to score the 2-0. With good players it’s like that. With [Lionel] Messi, I know he’s going to come in and do that, but you can’t stop him,” Arteta spoke of Saka’s great strike.
Arsenal’s start was the kind of statement of intent needed after Arteta insisted they will have to be almost perfect to bring an end to Manchester City’s four-year reign as kings of the land.
“First half we were really good,” Arteta added.
“Really aggressive, really intense. A lot of purpose to our attack. A lot of threat in the box.
“We generated a lot. We probably we should have scored two or three. Second half we became a bit sloppy. What I see is the willingness.
“With the first game, you have some uncertainty in how you will respond against a really difficult opponent. Score two, clean sheet, win.”
Arsenal put up a record-breaking 2023-24 campaign, winning more games than they had ever managed before in the top flight, but were still topped to the title.
City end two points above Arsenal as the North London side settled for second place for a second consecutive season.
Arsenal have not won the league title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ went unbeaten through the 2003-04 season.