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Arsenal of England youngster, Bukayo Saka helped his coach, Mikel Arteta mark his second anniversary as The Gunners’ tactician in style, as the Nigerian-born left-footer netted twice in his side’s away win.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, with Saka at his blistering best and The Gunners’ other players roaring like a house on fire, Arsenal made it four straight wins to the bargain.
Their surge helped Arteta celebrate his second year as Gunners boss with a thumping 5-0 win away to Norwich City.
Arteta reverted back to a more recognisable line-up as the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Thomas Partey, Saka and Alexandre Lacazette returned.
Arsenal were also missing Calum Chambers, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Cedric Soares and Tomiyasu due to Covid-19, while Adam Idah got off the hosts’ bench pretty late in the game.
Barely had the whistle gone at The Canaries’ ground than Saka gave Arsenal the perfect start, stroking the ball past Angus Gunn in the sixth minute.
Statistics later showed that Saka has been involved in nine goals in 19 EPL games this season (five goals, four assists), more than he managed in 32 appearances last season (five goals, three assists).
Kieran Tierney extended their lead just before the break (44) with a composed finish, before Saka, who ended up as man of the match with nine points from ten, rounded off his impressive display with a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area (67).
Alexandre Lacazette, who continued as captain in the absence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, scored from the penalty spot (84) after being fouled by Ozan Kabak.
Substitute Emile Smith Rowe just about stayed onside to add the finishing touch (90+1) to another super display from Arsenal.
Saka’s second goal in the 67th minute was a fine finish as the England winger cut inside Brandon Williams before striking from the edge of the box to wrap up the win.
Arteta, whose side host Wolverhampton Wanderers in less than 48 hours, looked to his bench to freshen things up with the game secure, but it did not stop a late flurry from the visitors.
Lacazette was played in by Smith Rowe before being bundled over in the box by Kabak six minutes from time and the Frenchman picked himself up to tuck away the resulting penalty.
Smith Rowe then got the better of a tight offside call to score off the bench for the second league outing in succession.
Victory on the night of Boxing Day means The Gunners secured a fifth straight win in all competitions for the first since 2018 under Unai Emery.
Arteta, who took charge of Arsenal on Boxing Day in 2019, sees his side stay fourth, and despite having played more games than the sides around them, the win sees them open up a six-point gap to fifth-placed Spurs.
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