'Incredible' Bukayo Saka shines as Arsenal defeat Wolves in impressive season opener

The "unbelievable" Bukayo Saka was praised by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for his inspiring performance in the team's 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their English Premier League opening game on Aug 17th.

Kai Havertz put the Gunners ahead from Saka’s assist in the first half at the Emirates Stadium, before the latter wrapped up the points after the interval with a brilliant strike to cap a virtuoso display.

“Bukayo had an unbelievable action to score the 2-0. With good players it’s like that. Like with (Lionel) Messi, I know he’s going to come in and do that, but you can’t stop him,” Arteta said of Saka’s eye-catching goal.

It was exactly the kind of statement win that Arsenal needed after their manager admitted they will have to be almost perfect to end Manchester City’s four-year reign as champions.

“First half we were really good,” Arteta added.

“Really aggressive, really intense. A lot of purpose to our attack. A lot of threat in the box. We generated a lot. We probably we should have scored two or three. Second half we became a bit sloppy. But what I see is the willingness.

“With the first game, you have some uncertainty in how you will respond against a really difficult opponent. Score two, clean sheet, win. A lot of positives to take from the game.”

Arsenal enjoyed a record-breaking 2023-24 campaign, winning more games than ever before in the division, but were still pipped to the title. City finished two points above as the Gunners were forced to settle for a runners-up berth for a second successive season.

Arsenal have not won the title since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” went unbeaten through the 2003-04 campaign.

But the painful near-misses endured by Arteta’s men have not dulled their appetite for success, with Arteta’s quirky man-management fuelling the fire.

In the close season, he had hired a group of professional pickpockets to teach his squad a valuable lesson.

Unaware of the pickpockets’ presence at a team dinner, Arsenal’s players were relieved of their valuables as Arteta took the opportunity to remind them to be alert at all times, on and off the pitch.

But stealing the Premier League title from City would not be so easy for Arteta.