Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta compared Gunners academy graduate Bukayo Saka to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi following Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Last season's runners-up kicked off their 2024-25 campaign in perfect fashion with a seventh straight win over Wolves, where Saka put in a man-of-the-match display at the Emirates Stadium.
The England international registered Arsenal's first assist of the new Premier League season, delivering a sumptuous cross for Kai Havertz to head home in a first half that Arsenal largely dominated.
Arteta's men faced a resurgent Wolves outfit in the second period, but they survived that brief period of pressure and rubber-stamped their victory when Saka and Havertz swapped roles.
After the German laid off his youthful counterpart on the right, Saka faced up to Rayan Ait-Nouri and pulled off his signature move, cutting inside before pulling the trigger with his left foot.
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Arteta talks up Saka "quality" in Messi comparison
However, rather than aiming for the far corner - as he did against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals - Saka unexpectedly caught Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa out at his near post with a fierce drive.
Asked in his post-game press conference why teams do not try harder to stop Saka cutting inside on his left foot, Arteta said that the 22-year-old's action is similar to Messi in being entirely predictable but almost always difficult to stop.
"You know with Messi, I know he's going to come here and put the ball there because he does it all the time - that's the quality of the players," the Gunners boss replied.
While Havertz and Saka made an impact in the final third, Arsenal had to rely on goalkeeper David Raya to make a handful of crucial saves, including a terrific stop from Jorgen Strand Larsen late in the first half.
The Spaniard reacted rapidly to stick out a hand and stop Strand Larsen's header from finding the bottom corner, which left Wolves boss Gary O'Neil in disbelief.
Arteta hails "unbelievable" Raya save and offers Rice injury update
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"I don't know how David Raya saves it... Everyone thought that was in the net. Big goalkeepers at big sides that are chasing titles sometimes come up with magic moments that can change games," O'Neil told the press at full time, as quoted by James Benge.
Arteta shared the Wolves manager's sentiment, adding: "Unbelievable! I think it was the first time they had any attempt. We didn't defend the box well and then David makes an unbelievable save. "
The Gunners boss also allayed fears over a potential injury to Declan Rice, who came off gingerly towards the end, explaining that the Englishman was just suffering from cramp after a shortened pre-season.
"He was cramping a bit. He hasn't had the longest pre-season ever, but he's really trying and he put in an unbelievable performance again today," Arteta said.
Arsenal have a full week to recover from Saturday's victory before they head to Unai Emery's Aston Villa next weekend for their first away game of the season.
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