Garth Crooks has praised Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal winger’s two-goal display against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners faced two huge tests in a row as Premier League action returned after the international break.
First it was the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, which Arsenal won with a superb 3-1 victory.
Then came Liverpool and Arsenal again passed the test, beating the off-colour Reds 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium.
Garth Crooks has praised Bukayo Saka
A number of Arsenal players excelled in that victory but the focus has been placed on wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
Both Martinelli and Saka were simply outstanding against Liverpool, causing no end of problems for the Reds back line.
Martinelli darted behind Trent Alexander-Arnold to open the scoring before then finding Saka to make it 2-1 on the stroke of half time.
Saka then won it from the penalty spot, having the composure to finish past Alisson with so much pressure on his shoulders after Gabriel Jesus had been fouled.
We all remember Saka’s penalty hell in the Euro 2020 final but he showed no sign of nervousness as he secured another win for Arsenal.
In this exciting, vibrant Arsenal team, it feels like Arsenal’s two star wingers are going to be around for a long, long time.
Pundit Garth Crooks has now named Saka in his Team of the Week for BBC Sport, claiming he always knew that the penalty against Italy would be making of him.
Crooks believes Saka somewhat redeemed himself by scoring that pressure spot kick against Liverpool but added that he isn’t enjoying Arsenal’s rise ‘one bit’.
Crooks is a former Tottenham striker and it seems that his loyalties to his former club make Arsenal’s outstanding start to the season rather difficult to swallow.
“I said that his penalty miss in the Euros would be the making of this kid,” said Crooks. “Granted, he had already put Arsenal ahead against Liverpool in an extraordinary game between two fabulous teams, but the penalty that won the Gunners the game didn’t even come close to the pressure he experienced from the spot against Italy.”
“In fact he will have stayed awake some nights wishing for a similar moment to arise where he could redeem himself. And boy, when it came, did he relish the moment. Arsenal beat Liverpool 3-2 in a classic encounter to go back to the top of the Premier League, and I must tell you I am not enjoying this one bit,” he added
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