Bukayo Saka propelled Arsenal to a 3-0 victory over Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday, yet he left the match with bittersweet feelings after narrowly missing his first hat trick for the club due to a teammate’s intervention.
The England winger had already netted two goals at Emirates Stadium when he aimed for a third in the 88th minute. His shot, which appeared destined for the back of the net, deflected off the shin of Kai Havertz before finding its way in, effectively sealing the win for Arsenal.
“He got in the way of it,” Saka joked about Havertz. “But don’t worry, the hat trick is coming. It’s on the way.”
Despite missing out on the hat trick, Saka’s performance was pivotal, contributing three goals to the team’s success. Manager Mikel Arteta praised the 23-year-old right winger, noting that he is on a path to becoming a world-class player.
“You have to be able to do that consistently over many years to put yourself in that position,” Arteta said. “What he’s accomplished in his first six years of professional football is exceptional. His goal is to keep improving, and he has the right players and environment to do so.”
In the match, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly made his Champions League debut at left back, stepping up amid defensive injury concerns. The promising young player expressed admiration for Saka, who also rose through the ranks of Arsenal’s academy.
“Looking up to Bukayo, he has that mindset; he has everything,” Lewis-Skelly said. “I’ve learned a lot from him and I want to keep learning.”
With this victory, Arsenal ascended to third place in the 36-team Champions League standings.
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