Bukayo Saka made an impressive entrance as he had an assist in Arsenal’s 3-2 comeback win against Everton in a thrilling Premier League game at the Emirates, Completesports.com reports.
Also in action for Everton former Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi who came off for Bernard in the 60th minute.
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Saka who replaced the injured Sead Kolasinac on 19 minutes provided the assist for Arsenal’s equaliser, sending in a superb cross for Eddie Nketiah to slot home.
It was his 10th assist in all competitions this season, most of any current teenage Premier League player.
Everton got off to the perfect start in the 1st minute with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, taking advantage of a slack defending from the Arsenal backline from setpiece to acrobatically slam the ball home.
After Nketiah’s equaliser Arsenal went 2-1 up on 33 minutes through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who ran on to David Luiz’s pass and neatly place his effort into the far corner.
But in the fourth minute of first half added time, Richarlison scored to end the half 2-2 from another setpiece.
And just 24 seconds into the restart Aubameyang got his second and Arsenal’s third with a superb header from Nicolas Pepe’s cross.
Arsenal have now stretched their unbeaten Premier League run to seven games and are yet to lose in 2020.
Also, they are now unbeaten in their last 24 home Premier League games against Everton (W20 D4) since a 2-1 defeat in January 1996 at Highbury under Bruce Rioch.
The win took them to ninth on 37 points and seven points away from fourth position in the league table.
The North London club won three games in seven days, two in the league and in the Europa.
Last weekend they thrashed Newcastle United 4-0 at the Emirates before pipping Olympiakos 1-0 away on Thursday, before wrapping it up with the win against Everton.
By James Agberebi
1 Comment
_ Saka shines; Iwobi tried _
Arsenal continued their improvement under young coach Mikel Arteta today with a 3:2 home win against Everton with Master Saka making his mark yet again in an encounter that saw Alex Iwobi miss several opportunities to register his name on the scoresheet.
Rating Iwobi today, Adam Jones writing for Liverpool Echo said:”Alex Iwobi – 5/10
Missed a couple of chances to extend Everton’s lead before losing the run of Bukayo Saka for the youngster to cross in for Arsenal’s equaliser in the first half.
Not his best performance as he returned to his old stomping ground.”
Saka for his part attract a 6.6/10 ratings from controversial Josh Sipie of Paininthearsenal.com who wrote:” “Came on for an injured Kolasinac in just the 13th minute. Greeted to rapturous applause.
Naturally, he got involved straight away, setting up a great chance for Nicolas Pepe before coming back and delivering a pristine cross for Eddie Nketiah’s beautiful finish.
Perhaps it was an inevitability of timing, but this club looked completely different after he got introduced.”
Josh, in keeping with his controversial manner, was also critical of aspects of Saka’s performance in his piece which I chose to disregard.
Calvert-Lewin had put Everton in the lead before Nkethia drew Arsenal level and then Aubameyang put the Londoners ahead in 33 minutes to make it 2:1 at that point.
Richalison brought Everton back into the match before Aubameyang’s 46 minute strike made it 3:2 to Arsenal as Everton huffed and puffed but couldn’t bring the house down – 3:2 it ended.
The win means Arsenal remain unbeaten in 2020 and gives them back-to-back league victories for the first time since the opening two matches of the campaign.
Iwobi’s wait for his 2nd league goal of this campaign continues after his 1st and only goal thus far came on the 1st of September 2019 against Wolves.
He has played 16 games in the league since then without registering either a goal or an assist to his name!
Saka on his part continues to grow in stature with key assists in games for Arsenal this breakthrough season.
They Anglo-Nigerian has provided 4 assists thus far this season across the Premier league and Europa competition games.
The England youth International is destined for great things should he continue on this trajectory.
Alex Iwobi is expected to named in the Super Eagles squad for March assignments.