Bukayo Saka hopes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's first Premier League hat-trick will be a turning point in Arsenal's maze of a season.
Aubameyang's treble in the 4-2 win against Leeds on Sunday gave the Gunners the perfect start to a defining week. Thursday's Europa League date with Benfica is followed by an acid test against champions-elect Manchester City.
Saka, who was also outstanding against Leeds – he won a penalty and another was rescinded after referee Stuart Attwell consulted his pitchside TV monitor – said: “Auba is amazing. I can't speak highly enough of him.
“He showed everyone how much quality he has - when he gets a chance, he is going to put it away.
“He can do everything, so we are so happy to have him and it’s good that he got a hat-trick for his confidence. We have a big week ahead and we hope he can score some more goals for us.
“Does this feel like a turning point? I hope so. The last two games (before Leeds) we lost, but I thought we were quite unlucky.
“To get this one over the line, get the win, it sets us up for quite a tough week and gives us a lot of confidence going into the games.”
Saka has emerged as a key component of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's grand design to put his trust in youth, with Emile Smith-Rowe and on-loan Martin Odegaard forming a new holy trinity behind lone striker Aubameyang against Leeds.
It worked a treat, and Saka told the club website: “It’s perfect, because as a young player you get experience around you and people to guide you when things aren’t going well.
“They can give you confidence, instructions and things like that. I just feel like he (Arteta) has got the right balance for us at the moment.
“Martin is amazing. He has a lot of quality and I am looking forward to playing more with him, scoring some goals and assisting him. He’s an amazing player.”
