Can Bukayo Saka be the 20-goal forward Arsenal need to push for ...

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Is this the season Bukayo Saka goes supernova?

Saka’s winning goal against Wolves was familiar, arguably predictable, and yet utterly unstoppable. Arsenal’s supporters rose as one to acknowledge the matchwinner — no longer their Starboy, but simply a star.

With the game delicately poised at 1-0, there had been signs that Wolves were growing in confidence. Arsenal had begun the second half in sloppy fashion and Gary O’Neil’s men looked ready to capitalise. And then Saka happened — a skip inside Rayan Ait-Nouri, and a lashed finish beyond Jose Sa.

Ait-Nouri doubtless knew what Saka intended to do. Preventing it is another matter. “With good players, it’s like that,” said Mikel Arteta. “With Lionel Messi, I know he’s going to come here and put the ball there, but he does it all the time. You can’t stop him. That’s the quality of the players.”

Arteta’s choice of Messi appeared more a case of plucking a well-known name than making a loaded comparison to Saka. A mention of Arjen Robben or Robin van Persie might have served the same purpose — left-footed players with a knack of cutting inside to score. But there is nonetheless a feeling that Saka may be on the precipice of reaching a new level, particularly in front of goal.

You don’t necessarily need a prolific goalscorer to win the league, but the data suggests it helps. Only three times in the last 15 seasons has a team won the Premier League without a player scoring at least 20 goals.

The assumption is that those goals must come from a centre-forward — and debate continues over whether Arsenal have enough firepower in that position — but of all the Arsenal players threatening to break through that barrier, Saka is surely closest. Mohamed Salah has demonstrated that title-winning goals don’t have to come from a central striker.

Saka finished last season with 16 league goals, improving on his preceding tallies of 14 and 11. Year after year, there has been a steady progression. In three weeks, Saka will turn 23.

This was the 59th goal of Saka’s Arsenal career. That number had a particular poignancy here — 59 was the number of Arsenal first-team goals scored by Kevin Campbell, whose life and memory were celebrated in a touching pre-game tribute. Campbell was described over the PA as an “Arsenal legend”. Saka’s heroics mean he is well on the way to assuming that status.

After 80 minutes, the match-winner was substituted for Leandro Trossard. For expedience, he left the pitch on the opposite side of the dugout. The result was a half-lap of honour.

Saka never seems to move freely when he leaves the field. His playing style invariably results in knocks. Saka’s ability to withstand that buffeting and still deliver is yet another mark of an elite player.

In this instance, Saka’s contribution was all the more impressive given his truncated pre-season. A month ago, he was playing in the European Championship final. He only returned to training a fortnight ago. This is a player still finding his rhythm — and yet still winning games.

“I’m not surprised,” said Arteta of Euro 2024 finalists Saka, Declan Rice and David Raya. “That was their mentality straight away after the last game. They said, ‘I’m going to be ready for the first game’.”

“I spoke to them after the summer and tried to arrange a plan. They wanted to come back and be here early. They were already getting prepared when they were on holiday. This is the mentality that we need. If players are doing that compromise it will grow around the team and they will step up the level.”

Raya made a telling contribution by pawing away Jorgen Strand Larsen’s first-half header. Rice, meanwhile, exerted himself so enormously that he went down with cramp.

In this instance, Saka’s aches and pains would have been alleviated by the applause of the crowd, who stood to salute him. They recognised that his individual skill had rescued them from the prospect of a nervy finish.

Kai Havertz might be Arsenal’s other major contender to reach that 20-goal milestone. Last season, he finished with 13 in 37 league appearances despite spending most of the first half of the season playing as a central midfielder. Starting this campaign as a striker, he opened his account with a classic centre-forward’s goal. His leap and header met Saka’s tantalising cross.

That is the other aspect of Saka’s game — his creativity. He is a reliable provider, with his last two Premier League seasons yielding a total of 20 assists.

“We’re back,” said Saka on Instagram after the game. He’s back. And Arsenal are grateful for it.

(Top photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

James McNicholas has covered Arsenal extensively for more than a decade. He has written for ESPN, Bleacher Report and FourFourTwo Magazine, and is the co-host of the Arsecast Extra Podcast. Follow James on Twitter @gunnerblog