Gary Neville reacts to Bukayo Saka’s display in Arsenal win

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Gary Neville has told Sky Sports (broadcast on 26/12; 19:19) that Bukayo Saka was absolutely outstanding as he named the Arsenal youngster as his man of the match in the latter stages of the Gunners’ Boxing Day victory.

Mikel Arteta’s men ended a run of almost two months with a Premier League win on Saturday. They beat Chelsea 3-1 at the Emirates with a superb performance from a number of their players.

Saka was certainly one of the most impressive. The 19-year-old scored Arsenal’s third goal as he lobbed Edouard Mendy during the second-half.

And while there seemed to be plenty of contenders, Neville was in no doubt as to who deserved the man of the match award as the full-time whistle loomed.

“100% him,” he told Sky Sports, when asked about his man of the match. “Absolutely loved his performance, scored a goal at the beginning of the second-half.

“Absolutely outstanding playing off that right-hand side,” he went on to add. “He’s mainly had a defensive role in the second-half after that goal but he’s done it well. We haven’t seen anything of Chilwell and that’s down to him.”

Saka really has been one of the few Arsenal players who has deserved pass marks for his form this season. It is remarkable to think that he does not even turn 20 until next season has started.

He is a player who seems to step up wherever Arteta puts him in the system. And if anyone was doing their best to drag Arsenal out of their rut, it was the teenager.

There was the moment of magic that led to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal against Southampton. And his goal against Chelsea was certainly important as the visitors threatened to set up a nervy finish in the final minutes.