Bukayo Saka was delighted to play his part as Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory away to Sunderland on Saturday night.
The result capped a demanding week for the Gunners, who had already beaten Chelsea in the Premier League before travelling to Italy to claim a 1-0 Champions League victory over Napoli. Just 72 hours later, Mikel Arteta’s side were back in action on the road against a determined Sunderland team.
For Saka, the win highlighted the character and depth within the Arsenal squad. He believes the team has developed a habit of producing decisive moments when they matter most.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” Saka said after the game. “It’s been like that since the start of the season.
“This is a really, really big win. I enjoyed it a lot. It was tough, but there were big moments from David and Bruno that really changed the game and helped us win.”
One of those moments came when Bruno made his impact, producing a goal that Saka clearly enjoyed celebrating.
“The goal was amazing,” Saka added. “The way it went in, I enjoyed it, the celebrations, everything. It was a massive moment, a great moment for him, and he deserves it. He’s a top guy.”
Saka was also keen to highlight the contribution of Arsenal’s substitutes. With the fixture coming at the end of an exhausting run of matches, the winger believes having players capable of changing games from the bench could prove crucial throughout the season.
“There have been big contributions, not just from the starting players but from the players coming off the bench,” he said. “Bruno showed that today, and all the others who came on as well.
“We’re going to keep going as a squad and that’s going to give us a lot of strength for the season.”
The victory was even more impressive considering the physical demands Arsenal had faced during the week. After the Chelsea comeback, the team travelled to Naples for their Champions League opener before making the long trip north to face Sunderland.
Saka admitted that the workload behind the scenes is something supporters may not always see.
“It’s been a massive week for us,” he explained. “There has been a lot of travelling. People don’t understand behind the scenes how it’s been, but I’m really happy with how we’ve managed this.
“To get three wins from three tough, tough games is amazing for us. Credit to the team, the staff, all of us. We need to keep going. It doesn’t stop.”
Saka then put the finishing touch on the victory himself, calmly converting a penalty deep into stoppage time to make it 2-0.
The goal was his third of the season and his 84th for Arsenal in all competitions, moving him level with club legend Robert Pires.
The milestone clearly meant something to the England international.
“I enjoy hearing those milestones,” Saka said with a smile. “So I’m happy! I was pleased to get that goal at the end. I’m very happy!”
With Arsenal continuing to compete on multiple fronts, Saka’s contribution and the growing strength of the squad could prove increasingly important as the season develops.
