Bukayo Saka has identified Arsenal's dramatic 2-1 victory over Newcastle United as the moment that convinced him the team can win the Premier League title. The Gunners, who lead the table by four points after nine games, overcame a 1-0 deficit with late goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhaes. Saka emphasized the squad's improved depth despite injuries as a key factor in their strong start.
Arsenal's 2-1 win at St James' Park last month marked a turning point for Bukayo Saka, who believes it demonstrated the team's readiness to end their 23-year wait for the Premier League title. The Gunners had lost their previous three visits to Newcastle and dropped points in two of the three league games before this fixture. Trailing 1-0 with full time approaching, Mikel Merino equalized before Gabriel Magalhaes headed in the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations.
"In the past, those type of games, Newcastle away, we've never really got a good result and this year we did," Saka told Sky Sports. Despite the optimism, the 24-year-old winger remains cautious, noting Arsenal's second-place finishes in the last three seasons. "I think it's a bit early to talk about 'our year'," he said. "We're still in October... What I've learned is that now is not so important. It's in April, that's when you need to be there and try and be (in) first place."
Saka also highlighted Arsenal's enhanced squad depth as crucial this season, following a £250 million spend on eight signings. Players like Saka, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and William Saliba have faced injuries, yet the team has won seven consecutive games across competitions, relying on set-piece strength and a solid defense. "This year I feel we're a very strong group and we've got a lot of quality," Saka added. "We've already suffered a lot of injuries, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest... it's making me really believe we can do it."
Manager Mikel Arteta echoed the focus on consistency, with Arsenal four points clear of Bournemouth, and Manchester City and Liverpool six and seven points behind respectively. "We are where we are," Arteta said. "It's a credit to us because we've been very consistent... It is early, so it doesn't mean anything other than let's keep doing a lot of things that we’re doing really well."