Garth Crooks has admitted to BBC Sport that he can’t get his head around hearing people claim that Bukayo Saka’s latest goal for Arsenal was a fluke.
The 19-year-old picked up the Man of the Match award for his performance in the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Saka killed the game off as a contest midway through the second half when his effort floated over Edouard Mendy from a tricky angle and reached the top corner.
It looked very much like the Arsenal winger tried to cross the ball and it accidentally found the net.
But Crooks, writing on BBC Sport, has claimed that it looked completely intentional from the young England international.
He said: “How anyone could even suggest that Saka didn’t mean to chip Edouard Mendy for Arsenal’s third against Chelsea, having seen the analysis, is a mystery to me.
“You see the lad look at the keeper before he attempts to execute the skill. The only people who could possibly suggest this magnificent goal was anything other than a fluke are those incapable of displaying such ability.”
Was it a fluke? Well, Saka posted a tongue-in-cheek message on Twitter after the game.
It’s very possible that the Arsenal gem is hinting that it was indeed an error on his part, but he won’t care and neither will any fan of the North London club.
Prior to Boxing Day, Mikel Arteta’s side hadn’t won a Premier League game since November 1, so this was a very much-needed victory.
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