Bukayo Saka now has as many Premier League assists as Arsenal legend Robert Pires with his 42nd following his brace of them in the 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday.
Arsenal went down to the visitors five minutes before the hour mark as substitute Cameron Archer scored a beautiful goal, his first since joining the Saints in the summer.
Given the course the fixture has taken in recent times, it gave Arsenal a lot to be worried about but the Gunners were back on level terms three minutes later, with Bukayo Saka getting his first assist of the day by setting up Kai Havertz for a classy finish.
Ten minute later, Arsenal took the lead in a home game against Southampton for the first time since a 3-0 win in December 2021 as substitute Gabriel Martinelli got on the end of a Bukayo Saka cross, managing to beat the offside flag.
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Bukayo Saka equaled Robert Pires Premier League assists
With the assist to Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka achieved his 42nd Premier League assist, the same tally managed by Robert Pires, who was at Arsenal for six years, between 2000 and 2006.
The Frenchman, who questioned Saka’s consistency weeks ago played 198 games in the competition to reach his achievement, 21 more than it has taken Saka, who started his Arsenal career with arguably the club’s worst team of all time, and as a left-back.
Saka now has seven assists in the Premier League this season, at least three more than anyone else. He also scored Arsenal’s third goal to put the game beyond Southampton, his first in the league since scoring on opening weekend against Wolves.