Bukayo Saka’s set-piece deliveries remain a pivotal weapon for Arsenal, with the England winger nearly securing another assist during the 2-0 triumph over Manchester United on Wednesday.
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The Gunners, who lead the Premier League in set-piece goals, capitalized on corners to secure their win at the Emirates. Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock early in the second half, heading in Declan Rice’s pinpoint in-swinger. Arsenal doubled their advantage when William Saliba inadvertently converted Thomas Partey’s redirected header, set up by Saka’s precise delivery.
Saka, chasing the single-season assist record held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry (20), now sits at 11 for the season. Declan Rice joked about his teammate’s reaction to the missed direct assist.
“He’d have been fuming!” Rice laughed. “That would’ve been another one closer to the record. I want him to get that—it’d be massive for him. There’s no competition between us, though. As long as we keep delivering good balls and our defenders keep scoring, it’s all good.”
Reflecting on Arsenal’s set-piece dominance, Rice added, “I felt confident with every corner I took tonight. It’s about repetition and focus—delivering consistently good balls eventually leads to goals.”
Rice also highlighted his personal development, noting the improvement in his attacking output this season.
“This year has been my best for goals and assists, and I’m proud of that,” Rice said. “The season started slow for me, probably because of the long Euros campaign, but I’ve felt much better over the last few weeks. Tonight, I was ready to do anything to secure the win, and I’m buzzing with the result.”
Arsenal’s victory moves them closer to league leaders Liverpool, maintaining the momentum in their quest for Premier League glory.
