Bukayo Saka was denied his first Arsenal hat-trick Wednesday night when teammate Kai Havertz’s shin deflected his goal-bound shot into the net, putting a bittersweet touch on an otherwise dominant Champions League performance.
“He got in the way of it,” Saka said with a laugh after the 3-0 victory over Monaco at the Emirates Stadium, “but don’t worry, it’s (a hat trick) coming. It’s on the way.” The 23-year-old winger had already scored twice before his 88th-minute effort was redirected by Havertz for Arsenal’s third goal.
Manager Mikel Arteta focused on Saka’s continued development toward elite status rather than the missed milestone. “You have to be able to do that consistently throughout many years to put yourself in that position,” Arteta noted. “We can compare what he’s done in his first six years of professional football, which is exceptional, and his aim is to improve.”
The match also marked a significant moment for Arsenal’s youth development as 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly made his Champions League debut at left back, following Saka’s own path from academy prospect to first-team star. “Looking up to Bukayo, he has that mindset, he has everything,” Lewis-Skelly said. “I’ve learned a lot from him and I want to keep learning.”
Despite missing out on his personal milestone, Saka’s performance helped lift Arsenal to third place in the 36-team standings. His three goal contributions continued his impressive form in European competition, even if the hat-trick remained just out of reach.
