Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Bukayo Saka after Arsenal's dominant 4-0 win over Everton that the Gunners boss dubbed a "statement" victory.
The Gunners brushed aside the Toffees with two goals in each half to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points. This particular fixture had been earmarked as a huge tie for a while given it was Arsenal's game in hand over reigning champions and nearest challengers Manchester City.
Therefore, the stakes were high and pressure was on but as has often but the case this term in that situation, Arsenal did not falter. Instead, they rose to the occasion and brushed aside the same Everton that beat them 1-0 at Goodison Park just a few weeks ago.
After a cagey first few minutes, Arsenal eventually broke the deadlock after Oleksandr Zinchenko's perfectly-weighted through ball found Bukayo Saka. The 21-year-old star proceeded to rifle his strike past Jordan Pickford at the near post with his supposed week foot.
The goal was one of Saka's best this campaign and came in for some praise from his manager after the full-time whistle.
"Once we scored the first goal, the game unlocked," Arteta explained. "We needed a magic moment and Bukayo produced that. After that we grew and deserved to win the game.
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"With the way they play, direct, second balls, a small lead isn't enough. We played really well in the second half and could have scored more. I am delighted when I see the team play the way we want to.
"It's a statement that we're here and want to continue to do this," Arteta added.
On the stroke of half-time, it was two. Idrissa Gueye dwindled in possession and had his pocket picked by Saka, which in turn played Gabriel Martinelli through on goal. The Brazilian made no mistake and once the goal had been given after a lengthy VAR check, it was confirmed Arsenal were firmly in the driving seat.
The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first, with it starting slow before exploding into life when Martin Odegaard added Arsenal's third.
The Gunners captain could make no mistake after Leandro Trossard put the ball on a plate with an inviting pass across the face of the Everton goal.
Nine minutes later and Martinelli had his second, Arsenal's fourth. The 21-year-old has had to deal with his critics since the resumption of club football following the World Cup, but he now boasts four goals in his last three games.
As a result, Martinelli is now sitting on 11 league goals thus far this season. That's one more than Saka, but the fact that Arsenal can count on two players so young to deliver the goods time and time again is frankly quite remarkable.
