Robert Pires celebrated his 48th birthday ahead of Arsenal’s 2-0 win away at Leicester City and would have watched on with a smile as his former side swept the Foxes aside.
Even more encouraging were yet further goal contributions from the Arsenal duo challenged to have a greater influence on the game. Mikel Arteta’s side has needed more goals with the Gunners unable to break down their opponents across much of last season.
Yet Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe both earned yet more numbers towards their season stats tally. Smith-Rowe scored the second whilst Saka pinged in the corner for Gabriel Magalhaes’ opener.
Too soon for a comparison to the former Invincibles? Yes, tongue and cheek at its finest, however, finding hyperbole and these two players is an achievement in itself.
It is a testament to how the duo have improved under Mikel Arteta and the Spaniard should be praised for finding the dynamic and the system to allow them to thrive.
The loose 4-4-2 system which looks more like a 4-2-3-1 with Alexandre Lacazette dropping into the midfield has caused the wide pair to be freer and cut inside at will.
Saka’s goal and assists have come against two big tests in Tottenham and Leicester he now must look to match Smith-Rowe with the regularity of goal contributions.
The England youth international has five goal contributions in ten Premier League matches. Saka looked like he carried his Arsenal teammates for much of the previous campaign but the rise of ‘The Smith’ has lightened the burden on the 20-year-old.
Like Arsenal as a whole, the pair must now look to add consistency to their game. Arsenal’s ambitions to reach the top six for the first time since 2019 will be hugely influenced by the overall performances of both Saka and Smith-Rowe.
The depth in the positions is substantial but the level of output from Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli at present is doing little to push the aforementioned starting wide men.
Smith-Rowe has suffered from injury issues in the past but has so far been able to avoid a reoccurrence. Arteta will be wary of ensuring he gets enough rest but was happy to throw him in against Leeds United in their League Cup win.
There’s a desire from so many including Saka and Smith Rowe to play nearly every game. The team wants to play under Arteta, and the form is clear evidence as to why.
It may be some time before we’re talking more legitimately about this current young crop of talent in the same breath as the famous sides of old, but the potential is definitely there.
Make sure you have subscribed to The Arsenal Way! The Fan Brands team along with plenty of your football.london favourites will be producing daily Arsenal content for you to enjoy including match reactions, podcasts, football fun and interviews. You can follow Tom Canton from the TAW team to keep up to date with his work.
