Bukayo Saka Scores Premier League's First Goal Of 2022 And It's A Beauty
Saka gave Arsenal a surprising but well deserved lead against Manchester City in the Premier League's first game of the new year.
Bukayo Saka started 2022 in brilliant fashion, as the Arsenal star opened the scoring against Manchester City with a brilliant team goal.
Saka scored in Arsenal's final two games of 2021, against Newcastle United and Norwich City, and he continued that form on New Year's Day.
Arsenal, who had been brilliant from kick off, started the move in their own half in the 30th minute of the match and moved the ball forward with some excellent passing.
The move was the kind of thing you expect City to do to their opponents but instead it was Arsenal cutting through the visitors with general ease.
The ball was then played into the box with Saka stroking it home, past Ederson, to give Mikel Arteta's side the lead, even with the Arsenal manager at home due to Covid.
With City eight points clear of second place Chelsea ahead of the game, it seemed Pep Guardiola was in relaxed mood before kick off, wishing everyone a Happy New Year.
However the relaxed mood probably wouldn't have lasted too long inside City's technical area, as Arsenal were much the better team in the first 45 minutes.
They may have had a penalty as Martin Odegaard was brought down inside the area by Ederson, but the referee and VAR official decided that the keeper got enough on the ball in the challenge.
Even after the goal it was Arsenal who had the better chances, as Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in particular caused problems for City.
Featured Image Credit: BT SportTopics: Arsenal, Manchester City, Bukayo Saka, Premier League
Ryan Sidle