Many Arsenal fans were impressed with Bukayo Saka’s display on Thursday night, as the Gunners held Liverpool to a goalless draw in the first leg of their League Cup clash.
The tie is finely poised for the second leg, with the north Londoners being the happier side heading into that game. They played with 10 men for over an hour after Granit Xhaka received a red card for a reckless challenge on Diogo Jota. The Reds didn’t manage to penetrate the visitors’ defense, as the Emirates club showed incredible resilience throughout the game.
Having suffered some embarrassing defeats at Anfield in recent times, the Gunners deserve credit for keeping Liverpool’s attackers at bay. Mikel Arteta made a host of changes to the system, reverting to a back five with almost every player behind the ball during an opposition attack.
Unsurprisingly, the visitors did not pose much threat going forward. But, Bukayo Saka proved to be a menace for the Liverpool defense. He carried the ball into the opposition half with ease, which gave the players some time to regain their defensive shape.
The 20-year-old’s composure was beyond his age. He tracked back and provided some much-needed support to Calum Chambers on the right flank. Saka also managed to get a couple of shots on target. Remarkably, he could have snatched the lead but was denied by Alisson.
Arsenal fans were happy with the Hale End graduate’s performance and took to Twitter to express their joy. Here are some of the best reactions:
Saka is a mentality monster. Look at him. Nothing fazes him.
— AFCAMDEN (@AFCAMDEN) January 13, 2022
Even with 10 men, we are a counter attacking threat. That’s the power of Saka and Martinelli.
— LTArsenal™ (@ltarsenal) January 13, 2022
The way Saka has used his body to protect the ball and turn his man has been incredible to watch. This guy is going from strength to strength.
— Manas (@watmanAFC) January 13, 2022
Saka is unbelievable
— Osman 🎗 (@OsmanZtheGooner) January 13, 2022
Saka has worked so hard tonight. Everything positive we did going forward went through him.
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) January 13, 2022
Saka has that Fabregas and Wilshere gene where nothing phases him
— Paddy (@PaddyArsenal) January 13, 2022
Arsenal Fever View:
Saka has been a shining light in Mikel Arteta’s side and continues to play a pivotal role in the team. This season, he has been involved in 11 goals across all competitions. He is a versatile forward, who is capable of operating on both the flanks and in the midfield.
The Gunners have struggled to create enough chances, and that burden has been placed on Saka, but he seems to be thriving from it. He is still at very early stages of his career, with plenty of time ahead of him to elevate his game further and become the best in the business. One can only imagine the heights he can achieve if the attacker continues to progress at this rate.
The Gunners are set to take on arch-rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, in the north London derby on Sunday. However, they are missing several players due to injuries and illness. Arteta and his men will have to show the same grit and determination to secure a positive result.
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