Bukayo Saka feels he and his teammates can be delighted with their display against Everton after we recorded a 4-0 victory.
The attacker’s 10th Premier League goal of the season got the ball rolling five minutes before half-time, and still had time before the interval to set up Gabriel Martinelli for a second.
After the restart, Martin Odegaard also got in on the act before the Brazilian added his second to complete the rout, and that clinical finishing pleased Bukayo, given that it was just 25 days earlier that we fell to defeat against the same opponents.
Reflecting on the win post-match, Saka said: “I’m really happy. We went there a few weeks ago and we lost, so we knew going into the game how difficult it would be. To score four goals and play like that, we can be so proud of ourselves.
“I think [his goal] was my first chance of the game. It was the breakthrough. After setting I just had to focus on my touches, turning my body and myself, [going on] my right foot and finishing. I looked up and it was in the net, so I was happy.
“I’m happy [to hit double figures], it’s something I always set myself to try and improve. I’m hungry to achieve more.”
Saka also registered an assist when his closing down allowed him to set Martinelli through on goal for the all-important second goal, although he laughed that the duo didn’t think it would count and enjoyed a pleasant surprise!
Reflecting on that moment, he chuckled: “I looked at Gabi; we looked at each other. We sort of said to each other that it was offside and went to continue the game. So we saw that it wasn’t, it was a big relief and we were happy to go in 2-0 up.
“We’re all chipping in and we’re all doing our best for the team because it’s always better like that. We’re happy with that.”
The win puts us five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, and finally sees our game in hand used up to maximum effect. While Bukayo is relieved at that, he knows we can’t take our eye off the ball and allow the lead to slip with Bournemouth heading to north London on the weekend.
On the importance of tonight’s win, he added: “Definitely, because it gives us a bigger gap. We know that this game has [passed] now and we focus on Saturday because if we don’t win there, tonight’s win will have been for nothing. That’s our focus now.”
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