LONDON — Bukayo Saka answered Mikel Arteta's challenge with a decisive cameo as Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 in the Champions League, scoring once and assisting another after coming off the bench despite illness.
The England forward had been told by his manager to aim for "two or three" goals per game, and while he did not hit that tally against the French visitors, he made a huge impact. Introduced after Jurrien Timber's classy opener, Saka assisted Eberechi Eze's strike to make it 2-0 before rolling in Arsenal's third with a confident one-touch finish. Arteta said the tweak to Saka's positioning this season has been deliberate to get him closer to goal: "That is where we need to get him," he said. "And if he misses the chance, so be it. At the end, the more volume we generate, the bigger the probability of him scoring more goals."
The 25-year-old has now scored four goals in nine games this season and continues his evolution as Arsenal's key man, despite doubts over the last two seasons when opposition defenders doubled up on him and injuries disrupted his rhythm. Saka has scored 20 goals in a season just once, in 2023-24 with 16 in the Premier League, but arrives in strong form with five goals in his last four England matches, including a double in the recent 7-0 Nations League demolition of Croatia. He now has 19 goals in major European competitions for Arsenal, behind only Thierry Henry on 42, and nine assists in the Champions League, behind Henry on 16 and Cesc Fabregas on 14. Arteta said: "He wasn't feeling that good yesterday and today, as he had some sort of illness. He wasn't ready to start but he was really wanting to contribute to the team if it was needed and he came on and made a huge impact and delivered with real quality."
Arteta added: "He has been getting in great positions, getting shots, getting one-touch finishes and tap-ins. That is the kind of unpredictability we have with that player, otherwise we know how the opponent is going to defend him. He is doing well, he could have had another four or five goals by now, easily." The Spaniard revealed he spoke to Saka on the massage table after the press conference, saying: "Bukayo I just killed you in the press conference, good luck tomorrow. He was laughing. He knows that we have discussed these kind of things and he takes it because he wants to be the best version of himself." Arteta made five changes from the side that started the Premier League victory over Leeds as Arsenal navigate six matches in all competitions this month, with Noni Madueke moving to the right wing and Mikel Merino, Eze and Viktor Gyokeres coming into the starting XI.
Eze, 28, had started just two games in all competitions before Lille and was described by Arteta as "phenomenal" despite limited minutes, marking his first goal of the season with Arsenal's second. Madueke provided the assist for Timber's opener and showed his ability to beat a defender, though questions remain over his end product. It was a difficult night for Gyokeres, who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season as Arsenal won the title for the first time in 22 years, but had just 12 touches before being replaced. Kai Havertz looked a more natural fit and teed up Saka's goal, with Havertz, Saka and Martin Odegaard all introduced after Arsenal went 1-0 up to underline why they remain first names on the teamsheet.