Arsenal secured a 4-1 victory over Leeds with Bukayo Saka coming in as a substitute in the second half of the game.
Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Granit Xhaka and Benjamin White gave the Gunners the victory as they maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Saka was left on the bench but came in to replace Jesus in the second half of the game.
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FOOTBALL Arteta explains surprising Bukayo Saka’s absence from Leeds match
Given his goal output so far, he was expected to play in the crucial duel.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta decided not to start Saka against Leeds after he played two games in the space of four days for England but instead brought him in as a substitute.
Shaun Wright-Phillips reacts to Leeds approach towards Saka
On Saturday at the Emirates, Shaun Wright-Phillips observed how the Leeds United players encircled Bukayo Saka as soon as the Arsenal winger was brought in.
After the hour mark, Bukayo Saka entered the game and immediately got involved because he was the one who gave the ball to an unmarked Martin Odegaard, who then provided a beautiful pass to an advancing Granit Xhaka, who scored Arsenal's fourth goal of the match.
Saka was surrounded by several Leeds players as soon as he picked up the ball on the sides, but he remained calm and controlled the situation. Instead of attempting to outrun everyone in his vicinity, he just passed the ball to Odegaard, who assisted on the fourth goal. This only serves to highlight his capacity for influencing events and his team's performance.
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Speaking on Match Day Live, Shaun said, “I think he (Jesus) has come back sharp,” said Wright-Phillips. “That’s a great ball in there. Trossard doesn’t even look, he just puts it into an area and Jesus sees that area, attacks it, and then slides it in.
“That’s what I think Saka brings when he is on the pitch, you see when Saka had the ball, there were about three or four Leeds players around him, which gives Odegaard the space to open his body, lift his head up (and assist Xhaka).”
Wright-Phillips also hailed Gabriel Jesus
Shaun Wright-Phillips has also lauded Gabriel Jesus in an interview with Premier League Productions following his first Premier League start since the World Cup, and scoring two goals to help his team.
“I think he (Jesus) has come back sharp,” said Wright-Phillips. “That’s a great ball in there. Trossard doesn’t even look, he just puts it into an area and Jesus sees that area, attacks it, and then slides it in.
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Consequently, the Red Devils – without a win in three league games now - dropped to fourth place.
“That’s what I think Saka brings when he is on the pitch, you see when Saka had the ball, there were about three or four Leeds players around him, which gives Odegaard the space to open his body, lift his head up (and assist Xhaka).”
Erling Haaland of Manchester City may end up winning the Player of the Season title, but Saka also deserves to be included.
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