Bukayo Saka of Arsenal throughout the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Section MD1 match between Atalanta BC and Arsenal FC at Stadio di Bergamo on September 19, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photograph by Justin Setterfield/Getty Photos)
Amid the chaos of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester Metropolis on Sunday, it’s simple to neglect that Bukayo Saka was the shock candidate to be substituted at half-time.
The highest two from the Premier League during the last two seasons performed out a 2-2 attract a pulsating encounter on the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Arsenal overturned an early Erling Haaland objective to take a 2-1 half-time lead with strikes from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhães.
Nevertheless, catastrophe struck when Leandro Trossard was controversially proven a second yellow card simply earlier than half-time for kicking the ball away after the referee’s whistle, simply weeks after Declan Rice was despatched off in an analogous incident.
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Mikel Arteta opted at half-time to convey on Ben White and shift to a defensive formation that usually noticed Arsenal play with a again six, with an additional line of three positioned simply in entrance.
Bukayo Saka reacts to Arsenal substitution
Saka was the shock participant to make means for White, regardless of carrying the captain’s armband and delivering a scrumptious nook to arrange Gabriel’s objective to place the Gunners 2-1 up simply minutes earlier than Trossard’s purple card.
Given his affect on the sport, you’d forgive Saka for not taking too kindly to being introduced off at half-time in such a easy recreation.
Nevertheless, the England worldwide is way extra gracious than that. After the match, Saka took to social media to reward his teammates, who took till the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time to crack below immense Man Metropolis strain.
“Happy with the boys,” Saka posted on his Instagram story alongside a picture of the Arsenal gamers in a huddle on the Etihad Stadium, adopted by a easy message of “thanks Gooners” to the membership’s supporters.
Up subsequent for Arsenal is a house tie with League One aspect Bolton Wanderers within the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.
Prime picture by Justin Setterfield/Getty Photos
