BUKAYO SAKA praised an unlikely hero after Arsenal went eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners easily beat managerless Crystal Palace 4-1, with Saka getting on the scoresheet.
Speaking after the match, however, the England winger wanted to heap praise on former forgotten man Rob Holding.
Saka, 21, told Arsenal club media: “I gave him a big hug when he came into the changing room because he deserves it.
“He was magnificent. We need that, you know, when he’s coming in to stay at the level that we’ve been playing.
“He was unbelievable today, so credit to him.”
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Boss Mikel Arteta was similarly effusive in his praise of Holding, who had played just 17 minutes of Prem football prior to starting yesterday.
He said: “It’s not a secret, if we want to maintain that level, everyone has to step in, give more.
“Rob is a great example of what we needed today.”
Arteta, 40, also pointed to the injuries his side have contended with this season – in a dig at Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
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The Dutchman enraged Arsenal fans last week by suggesting that they haven’t had to survive the volume of injuries that his side have.
Arteta told Sky Sports: “We had to respond and we talked about having players out all season.
“Gabriel Jesus was out for four months, Emile Smith Rowe out for four and a half months, Kiernan Tierney, Thomas Partey, Eddie Nketiah out for two and a half months, now William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
“We overcome those situations, Rob came in and was brilliant today.
“Everyone has to give another edge to be at the same level, it’s not a secret.
“There are moments we have 14, 15 players but everyone is willing to play and put their bodies on the line and I am happy that our players are happy to do that.
“To be at the top you have to do that at all times.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
