Mikel Arteta said Bukayo Saka will only get better after his double propelled Arsenal to a 3-0 win over Monaco and one foot in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The Gunners ended the night third in the 36-team table with just two matches remaining. The top eight are granted automatic qualification for the next phase.
Arsenal wasted a number of chances in the opening period – with the misfiring Gabriel Jesus missing three good opportunities to end his goal drought.
However, the Brazilian was on hand to lay on Saka’s first of the evening after 34 minutes.
Sparkling on the big stage once again ✨
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 11, 2024
The UCL Player of the Match: Bukayo Saka
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Saka then capitalised on a poor backpass to net his second with 12 minutes to go before he teed up substitute Kai Havertz in the closing stages.
Saka, 23, now has nine goals and 12 assists, taking his direct goal contributions for the season to 21, with Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (28) the only Premier League player with more.
“He keeps surprising us, and that’s what he wants to do,” said Arteta when asked about Saka.
“That’s the quality that he has, that’s the ambition that he has and how he’s preparing himself every day. It’s very difficult to do what he’s doing.
“What he’s done in his first six years of professional football is exceptional. His aim is to improve. He has the players and the environment around him to continue to do that and I’m sure he will.
“He has developed in the right way, mentally, physically, his condition, and his preparation, and now he has got the habit to play every three days and he is consistently doing that at the highest level.
“He is a great example because how he behaves daily, and what he wants to do, which is to give his best version every day. He is very humble, a great guy to have around the place and an incredible talent. He’s making the difference for us.”
Aside from Saka’s impressive brace – improving his tally to five goals from his last six appearances – Myles Lewis-Skelly, another Arsenal academy graduate, also starred.
Lewis-Skelly was handed his European debut at left-back – becoming the club’s youngest player to start in the Champions League since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011 – and he played a key pass to Jesus for Saka’s opener.
Commenting on the 18-year-old, Arteta said: “It was a really proud moment. He’s one of our own, 18-years-old, and he makes his debut starting in the Champions League.
What he’s done in his first six years of professional football is exceptional. His aim is to improve. He has the players and the environment around him to continue to do that and I’m sure he will
“It’s just a joy to watch him and a privilege to give a chance to somebody to start to change his career. He certainly took the chance, and it’s great that we can trust him and that he can play in this environment at this level.
“I was really happy with his performance. In pre-season he opened our eyes to say ‘I’m ready’. And today, he’s shown that he’s at the level.”
Monaco are third in Ligue 1 and secured a win over Barcelona earlier this season.
The French club’s manager Adi Hutter said: “Arsenal deserved this win because they were the better team. We were lucky that they missed so many chances.
“There were moments in the second half where I thought we were close to the equaliser but the gift we gave them for the second goal at this level is not acceptable. We are disappointed and not happy that we lost 3-0.”
