Saka sets Arsenal record with double-figure goals and assists

Bukayo Saka has become the first player to reach double figures for goals and assists in the Premier League this season, breaking an Arsenal record in the process.

Saka took his respective totals to 12 and 10 in Sunday's 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, setting up Gabriel Martinelli's opener before scoring their second and fourth goals.

He is the 44th different player to achieve this feat in a Premier League campaign, and only the eighth for the Gunners. 

Arsenal players to achieve it

Saka, however, has one thing over all of his Arsenal predecessors. 

At just 21 years of age, he is the youngest player to do it, beating Cesc Fabregas's record of 22 years old from 2009/10.

'I want them to count for something'

But for Saka, his goals and assists will mean little unless they result in a first Premier League title for Arsenal since 2003/04. 

"At the end of the season, if it makes a difference and helps my team get over the line, I’ll be happy. But I don’t want it to be all for nothing," he said post-match. 

Emmanuel Petit won the title with Arsenal in 1997/98 and he says however that Saka is on his way to being the best player in the world, regardless of what happens in the rest of the campaign. 

"The way he picked himself up from receiving so much criticism," Petit said. "I don't see anything that can stop him from being one of the most prolific and wonderful players in the world."

Will anyone else do it?

Such is Saka's excellence this season that no one else is within two of hitting double figures for goals and assists. 

Mohamed Salah is the closest but needs another three assists to join Saka, having scored 11 and set up seven.

Saka's Arsenal team-mates Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard are both four away, while Erling Haaland is five off.

Next-closest players to 10+ goals/assists