Arsenal standout Bukayo Saka has expressed his frustration regarding being substituted in their Champions League group stage clash against RC Lens on Wednesday night.
The Gunners had the opportunity to secure a spot in the knockout rounds with just a draw, and a win would guarantee them top place in the group with a game to spare, given other results.
- Why Galatasaray’s first goal against Man Utd ‘should not have stood’
- Erik ten Hag reveals who is to blame for Man Utd’s collapse at Galatasaray
- Gary Neville names the best manager in the world right now
- Arteta settles Messi & Ronaldo GOAT debate while naming dream five-a-side team
The team quickly asserted their dominance, with Kai Havertz scoring his second goal in as many games from close range to take the lead.
Gabriel Jesus and Saka followed suit, putting Arsenal firmly in control. Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard further extended the lead before halftime, creating a substantial five-goal advantage.
The second half saw Arsenal focusing on game management, with Lens applying some pressure but not causing significant concern. Another goal came for Arsenal when a handball was contested, leading to a VAR-checked penalty.
Jorginho confidently converted the spot kick with a hop, skip, and a jump, securing a 6-0 victory and a place in the knockout rounds of the competition.
- Lionel Messi finally explains why he is better than Cristiano Ronaldo
- Jose Mourinho names the GOAT between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
“I didn’t even dream like this!” Mikel Arteta told the media after the game. “We had the chance to qualify today and be top of the group and I think we’ve done it in a really convincing way against a really good side.
“The team from the beginning showed a lot of aggression and determination to go for the game. Everything happened in the right way in the first 30 minutes. That was really helpful to win the game.”
Enjoying a substantial margin of safety in the match, Arteta had the luxury of making some strategic rotations from his bench to conserve energy for key players.
Bukayo Saka was one of those players, and midway through the second half, he made way for Reiss Nelson, ensuring Saka’s freshness for the upcoming weekend clash against Wolves.
The winger wasn’t happy with the decision as he revealed to TNT Sports after the game: “Not really [happy to be substituted]. I wanted to play 90 minutes if I’m honest. I understand his decision and now we look ahead to Wolves and I will try to be at my best for that one.”
Arsenal can take comfort in winning the game and advancing without any injury worries to compound their existing list, especially with a significant clash scheduled for the weekend.
