Quotes

Saka: "We are in a better place than last season"

We kept up the pressure at the top of the table after ending Brighton’s long unbeaten home run on Saturday, and Bukayo Saka believes the team are better equipped to maintain our title challenge this season.

At this stage of the last campaign, we dropped crucial points in three consecutive games, but our winger says we have learnt from those disappointments.

“Yeah, 100 per cent,” he said after we moved one point clear of Liverpool at the top ahead of their trip to Old Trafford on Sunday. “I feel like we're in a much better place physically and mentally from last season.

“We've learned big lessons from last year, so we know what we need to do in these games. In these type of games, we need to score early, keep a clean sheet, work hard, and not give away any cheap goals.

“I feel like recently in 2024, we've been so solid, and we've been really impressive, so we’re happy with that.”

Having missed out on Wednesday’s win over Luton Town, Saka returned to the starting lineup with a bang, netting the penalty that broke the deadlock in the first half.

“I was really excited to be back here today and to win as well, so it's nice. And obviously, I want to get in a rhythm because we have some big games coming up.”

His penalty made it 14 Premier League goals so far this season, his most prolific campaign to date, but he was already looking to future challenges at the final whistle – starting with Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich.

“A stadium full of Gooners!” he smiled. “I'm excited, all with the boys excited so we need to recover and be ready for Tuesday.”