2 chances created, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka showed his value over others against Palace

Arsenal limped to a 0-0 draw against a resilient Crystal Palace side last night as their winning run under Mikel Arteta came to an end.

In a game with few chances, Arsenal couldn’t find the cutting edge they had done in previous weeks, despite including the likes of Saka, Aubameyang, and Lacazette all from the start.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The Gunners endured a frustrating night and but for some tidy bits of play in midfield at times and the odd moment, they never quite looked like really breaking the deadlock.

However, continuing his surge as one of the key players in the Arsenal XI, Bukayo Saka did at least show some level of quality as he looked to help his side break the deadlock.

Difference maker

Despite the 0-0 scoreline, Saka proved he was and is Arsenal’s best chance of creating chances at the moment. In fact, out of the entire front four, Saka was the only one to create any clear chances.

Per stats from WhoScored, Saka completed two key passes leading to chances. Putting that into perspective, Smith-Rowe, Lacazette, and Aubameyang managed nothing between them on that front.

(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Indeed, the stats indicate it was actually Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin who helped create more, while Dani Ceballos also created one chance for his teammates.

Saka, then, underlined his importance to his Arsenal team. Going into the next few months, it’s clear to see that the England youngster is going to be a key man.

Even in a drab affair against a dogged Palace side, Saka managed to shine, even if it was at a lower light than previously displayed.