The stats behind Saka’s Player of the Match display vs Southampton | OneFootball

Bukayo Saka put in another Player of the Match performance for Arsenal on Saturday, with the stats underlining his strong display against Southampton.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal past Aaron Ramsdale of Southampton during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on October 05, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsenal came from behind to win 3-1 against Southampton on Saturday, but they would have struggled to do so without Bukayo Saka’s influence on the game.

The Gunners went 1-0 down to the visitors in the 55th minute, before Kai Havertz brought the home side level with a lovely finish – assisted by Saka.

Gabriel Martinelli then put Arsenal with a nice finish, from a Saka cross. Then Saka himself put the finishing touches on the win by pouncing on a mistake to score a third.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal is challenged by Kyle Walker-Peters of Southampton during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on October 05, 2024. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

The Arsenal winger created seven chances and had seven shots in a very busy performance, so his eventual three goal contributions were no accident.

StatMuse report that Saka is just the second player in the last 10 seasons to register three or more goals or assists and four or more big chances created in a single Premier League game. The only other player was Kevin De Bruyne against Watford in 2019.

Sky Sports report that Saka now leads the league in assists, chances created, big chances created, and expected assists this season.

The Arsenal man is also second in the league for chances created from open play, so the stats are more than just a reflection of his effective set-piece deliveries.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

It was no real surprise to see Saka winning Sky Sports’ Player of the Match award, as well as winning Arsenal’s fan-voted Player of the Match award.

Now going into the international break, Arsenal fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Saka has a drama-free spell with England.