Thierry Henry is the greatest player in Arsenal’s history and holds the club record in goals and assists in a single, but Bukayo Saka is on the verge of achieving this legendary status with a sight on Dennis Bergkamp’s Premier League record.
Saka became the first player in the Premier League this season to reach double figures in goals and assists in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, moving the Gunners eight points clear of second-place Manchester City.
The young Englishman provided the assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal against Palace which took his season’s assist tally to 10 before scoring the second and fourth goal to surpass his personal goalscoring record in the league.
Bukayo Saka has 12 goals and 10 assists this season for Arsenal in the Premier League (Image credit: Getty Images)
Last season, Saka helped Arsenal to a 5th place finish, leading the club with 11 goals and 7 assists in the league. Saka’s 12 goals and 10 assists this season has already surpassed Robin Van Persie’s tally of 11 goals and 10 assists in the 2008/09 season. He has already scored 29 goals and provided 25 assists in his Premier League career so far.
With 10 games remaining before the end of the season, let’s look at how Bukayo Saka is breaking into the legendary bracket in the club at just age 21.
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Saka may break Bergkamp, Fabregas, Cazorla, Walcott’s record this season
Arsenal great, Dennis Bergkamp was the first player to reach double-figures for the club in the Premier League (Image credit: Getty Images)
The Hale End graduate is on course to break many Arsenal players’ goals and assists records this season if he continues his blistering form in front of goal. Arsenal legend, Dennis Bergkamp became the first player to reach double figures for the club in the 1997/98 season with 16 goals and 11 assists and also in the 1998/99 season with 12 goals and 13 assists.
Saka is currently on 12 goals and 10 assists, he needs 4 goals and 3 assists to reach Bergkamp’s record in the two seasons. If he scores four more goals and provide three more assists, he will not only reach the Dutchman’s 16 goals and 11 assists in a season and 12 goals and 13 assists the following season, he will also surpass Cesc Fabregas’ 15 goals and 13 assists in the 2009/10 season; Santi Cazorla’s 12 goals and 11 assists in the 2012/13 and Theo Walcott’s 14 goals and 10 assists in the 2012/13 season.
Thierry Henry’s insane 24 goals and 20 assists in the 2002/03 season and 25 goals and 14 assists in the 2004/05 season looks way out of Saka’s reach this season. While Saka has already bested Alexis Sanchez 10 assists in the 2016/17 season, the Chilean’s 24 goals in that season also looks out of reach for Saka. He can reach Henry’s 14 assists in the 2004/05 season.
If Saka helps Arsenal win the Premier League title at the end of the season, he will already achieve what Van Persie, Fabregas, Cazorla, Walcott and Sanchez could not achieve for the club during their Arsenal careers.
Two other Arsenal players who can reach double figures this season
Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard is also on course to achieve this feat this season, the Norwegian is currently on 10 goals and 6 assists and needs four more assists to reach 10, while January signing Leandro Trossard is another who is in contention. He has scored 1 goal and provided 6 assists for Arsenal since joining the club. He has eight goals and eight assists this season, needing just two to break into this bracket in the Premier League.
