After seeing Arsenal finally enjoy a positive experience on Tyneside, Bukayo Saka feels “Arsenal made a big statement” with a late, late show at St James’ Park.
Arsenal secured a dramatic victory at St James’ Park as late goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel turned the game around, overturning a lengthy deficit that included a VAR-overturned penalty and entering the final minutes still behind.
But two towering headers from Arsenal’s duo flipped the contest on its head, and after three frustrating trips to the north-east in recent seasons, Bukayo Saka was relieved to see fortune finally swing in Arsenal’s favour against the Black and Whites.
“It was a big result”, The stand-in captain for the day said after the match.
“We’ve come here in the past and results have gone against us, or decisions and stuff like that. It was starting to feel like that again today, but we have a big character, a big fight to turn it around, so we’re really happy”.
“In the past, we’ve come here and had decisions to go against us and whatnot, and almost today, with the penalty and some of the decisions, and Nick Pope having an unbelievable game. But we dug in and we showed that character, that resilience we have, so I’m really proud of all the boys. We made a big statement today. It’s really good for us, you can see it in all of our faces.”
Arsenal’s winger was on the bench when the goals went in, continuing his comeback from injury with another 70 minutes of action. He had led the side out as captain after being handed the armband by Mikel Arteta in Martin Ødegaard’s absence.
He may not have been on the pitch for Arsenal’s biggest moments of the match, but Bukayo was delighted to still be part of the celebrations after the late drama.
Reflecting on that moment, he added: “It was top, we had to run out to the corner flag and share the moment with Gabi! It’s a big moment for us as a team”.
“I was enjoying [the game]. I was feeling good, obviously managing it having just come back and three games in a week. I felt really good out there. I felt we dominated the game, we controlled it, and at the end, we got what we deserved”.
“It’s a beautiful feeling every time I get to wear the armband, and even better when we get three points, so I’m really happy.”