Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (R) gives the captain’s armband to Arsenal’s English striker #14 Eddie Nketiah (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Captain Bukayo
Mikel Arteta stated after the Sevilla win midweek that it’s important for young players like Saka to be part of the leadership group at Arsenal.
Well, against Sheffield United, he was handed perhaps the biggest personal accolade of his young, glittering career – the captain’s armband.
While he was decent enough down the right wing in the second half, he didn’t have any goal contributions, but the biggest story is him leading the club he idolized since he was young.
Bukayo Saka, Arsenal captain. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Continued on next slide…
pic.twitter.com/fjGXkirojS
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1718372314587549719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>While one goal was a typical “Eddie” finish, his Dennis Bergkamp-like first goal and his third thunderbolt from outside the box were simply outstanding.</p>
<p>Four second-half goals glossed over an up-and-down first half, but once the Gunners got going, the visitors wilted, and Arsenal simply did as it pleased.</p>
<p>The game provided plenty of talking points; here they are.</p>
<h2>King Eddie announces himself</h2>
<p>While we have seen Nketiah have his say on games throughout his Arsenal career, none were as devastating as this.</p>
<p>Handed a start by Mikel Arteta over Kai Havertz, who can lead the line as a false nine, Arteta won’t be doing that for a while, we think, after Nketiah’s efforts.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">1st PL hat-trick! That was for you Auntie Baby <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#RIP</a> ❤️🙏🏾 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@Arsenal <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://t.co/q1VkzOXav3">pic.twitter.com/q1VkzOXav3
<p>— Eddie Nketiah 📞 (@EddieNketiah9) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://twitter.com/EddieNketiah9/status/1718320595006369903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Often the one who bears the brunt of criticism, Eddie deserves all the credit here as he was simply outstanding. Some state, “It’s only against Sheffield United,” but you can only play who is in front of you.</p>
<p>Eddie was brilliant and rewarded Arteta’s faith in him with an outstanding afternoon’s work.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #2 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-137259 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1749749167-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1749749167-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1749749167-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1749749167-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1749749167-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2560px;">Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (R) gives the captain’s armband to Arsenal’s English striker #14 Eddie Nketiah (L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Sheffield United at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Captain Bukayo</h2>
<p>Mikel Arteta stated after the Sevilla win midweek that it’s important for young players like Saka to be part of the leadership group at Arsenal.</p>
<p>Well, against Sheffield United, he was handed perhaps the biggest personal accolade of his young, glittering career – the captain’s armband.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🗣️| Bukayo Saka on being the captain for Arsenal vs Sheffield United:</p>
<p>“I don’t really know how to describe it. You know me and you know where I’ve come from: the academy. To be at the front, leading the boys out today was just unbelievable. I’m lost for words – it’s hard to… <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://t.co/Nxmo1YQsu0">pic.twitter.com/Nxmo1YQsu0
<p>— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://twitter.com/ArsenalBuzzCom/status/1718318283122671716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>While he was decent enough down the right wing in the second half, he didn’t have any goal contributions, but the biggest story is him leading the club he idolized since he was young.</p>
<p>Bukayo Saka, Arsenal captain. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?</p>
<p><em>Continued on next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #3 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-137260 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1753,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1750586663-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1753" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1750586663-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1750586663-768x526.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1750586663-1536x1052.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1750586663-2048x1402.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2560px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 28: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>We had an Emile Smith Rowe sighting</h2>
<p>It feels like forever since we have seen Arsenal’s No. 10 start a Premier League game…and it has, May 2022, to be exact.</p>
<p>While ESR did have some good moments, he never really delivered the type of performance many wanted. Nonetheless, Smith Rowe starting is a big deal.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A sign of Arsenal's squad depth these days that they can win a game 5-0 after making five changes. </p>
<p>Arteta used to pick the same players all the time. Now he can bring in the likes of Smith Rowe, Havertz, Zinchenko, Kiwior and Nketiah. Jorginho and Gabriel were unused subs.</p>
<p>— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/10/28/arsenal-sheffield-united-eddie-nketiah-bukayo-saka/2/"https://twitter.com/SamJDean/status/1718301096618197402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>It shows the depth in this Arsenal squad, and while many thought he could be on the outer in north London, Smith Rowe is starting to get valuable minutes in the first team.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
