Arsenal got their Premier League campaign off to a strong start as they earned a deserved 2-0 victory over Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side were the dominant force in the match, in the first half especially, and were rewarded for their endeavour with 25 minutes on the clock.
Bukayo Saka swung a delightful cross into the Wolves penalty area, and Kai Havertz was able to get his head on the ball ahead of the onrushing goalkeeper, diverting it into an empty net.
Having been given the nod to lead the line ahead of Gabriel Jesus, the German will have been delighted to get off the mark so quickly. However, he would be the first to admit that a huge portion of the credit for his goal must go to Saka, who produced the magnificent delivery for him to attack.
Saka wowed Arsenal fans with his performance in this match. Despite not having had much a of pre-season with the Gunners, owing to his involvement in the later stages of Euro 2024 with England and subsequent extended break, he was still able to stamp his authority on this game.
After the break, with Wolves showing real signs of life, the Hale End academy graduate crushed their dreams of a comeback with a smart finish that flew in at the near post.
Kai Havertz hails Arsenal star Bukayo Saka
Saka looks to have gone up a level in his game, and is now every inch a talismanic figure at Arsenal. He has the confidence, quality, and strength of character to impose his will on games in the manner that has defined so many of the greats.
Havertz certainly believes that the winger is up there with the very best. Speaking to Sky Sports (17/08/2024, 17:00) after the win over Wolves, the former Chelsea man said: “Saka is unbelievable.
“There are not a lot of players like him on the planet and he is still so young. He can get better. It is very rare to see a young player like this perform every week at the highest level.”
Mikel Arteta must protect Saka
As undeniably important as Saka is to Arteta and Arsenal, the manager cannot afford to start the 22-year-old in every match, week in, week out, in all competitions this season. At times, the player will need a rest. Saka suffered with fatigue at one stage last season.
The best thing the Gunners can do is bring in a cover and competition option for Saka that the manager trusts. That clearly doesn’t include Reiss Nelson, who was only afforded one Premier League start last season.
Arsenal could still sign Nico Williams, who would be the ideal candidate for this role, and who could also compete for game time on the left flank.