Mikel Arteta is keen for Arsenal star Bukayo Saka to “become much better” as the England international still has “a lot to improve”.
Saka was the difference-maker for the Gunners on Thursday night as he netted the winner in their 1-0 win over Bodo/Glimt.
Arsenal won 3-0 when the sides met last week at the Emirates. But the Norwegian outfit are a much stronger outfit at home.
Before this game, Bodo/Glimt won their last 14 games at home, but Arsenal did enough to end this impressive run.
Arteta’s side are a game behind their rivals but they still sit top of Group A having picked up maximum points from their three outings.
The Gunners have now won 11 of their 12 games so far this campaign as they are also leading the way in the Premier League.
Arteta stated post-match that he was “delighted” about the win but he picked out a couple of faults in Saka’s performance:
“I’m really happy with the win against a team that has won the last 14 games here at home. It’s not a coincidence,” Arteta told BT Sport.
“We were expecting a really tough night here and we made a lot of changes again but I’m delighted to find a way to win. To do that under any circumstances is a real positive for me and the team.
“They are really fast and the turnovers and giving away of the ball that you don’t usually expect.
The ball was leaping and it was out of your feet and you give it away and the game becomes so fast. I’m happy, but at the same time we have to improve a lot.”
When asked if Saka is getting better, Arteta added: “Yes, but again he can become much better.
“He had moments in the game where he was really good and then moments he can improve and demand more of himself, especially defensively.
“There were moments where we allowed their left full-back to progress the play and break our press too easily. There a lot of things to improve.”
On their Europa League form helping their Premier League hopes: “It is two different competitions and approaches.
“You can see the control, demands and amount of shots that teams produce in the Europe, it is very different but we are adapting to that and I’m happy overall with the way we’re performing.”
On Arsenal winning while rotating the team: “At the moment that is it and that is the mentality that we are building.
“Today there were moments where we had to suffer and we lost too many duels in the middle of the park but the way the boys are trying and their hunger to win is there and…
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