Statistics

Stats: Saka on track to smash PL and club records

Saka vs Southampton

Bukayo Saka has made a sensational start to the season, and should his sensational form continue he could break a host of Premier League and club records.

Our winger has been in scintillating form since the opening day, when he assisted our first goal of the new campaign, crossing for Kai Havertz to head home, then netted our second to confirm the points against Wolves, with a low left-footed strike.

That game set the tone for an incredible start to the season, and we’ve asked Opta to crunch the numbers behind Bukayo’s blistering form…

Assist king

Seven games into the Premier League season, Bukayo is leading the way in terms of assists with seven – indeed that’s the most for any player in any of Europe’s big five leagues. He’s also created the most ‘big chances’ (12) in Europe, and in terms of overall chances created he’s leading the way in the Premier League with 27, while only Barcelona’s Raphinha has more than him in Europe.

The England international tied a club record earlier this season by assisting in each of our opening five Premier League games, and only Thierry Henry had done that previously back in 2004/05. Two came from corners for Gabriel to head home against Tottenham and Manchester City, while the other five were in open play, three of which resulted in goals for Havertz. 


Most assists after seven Premier League matchdays
Player Team Season Assists
Harry Kane Tottenham 2020/21 8
Kevin De Bruyne Man City 2019/20 8
Cesc Fabregas Arsenal 2009/10 8
Bukayo Saka Arsenal 2024/25 7
Paul Pogba Man Utd 2021/22 7
Cesc Fabregas Chelsea 2014/15 7
Thierry Henry Arsenal 2004/05 7

Incidentally, the record for most assists in a Premier League season remains 20, set originally by Henry in 2002/03, and then equalled by Kevin De Bruyne in 2019/20. 

Saka is on track to break that early on, as only three players have ever had more assists than him at this stage of the season – Harry Kane in 2020/21, De Bruyne in the season he tied the record, and Cesc Fabregas for us back in 2009/10. All three had eight assists after Matchday 7.

Most assists in a Premier League season
Player Season Assists
Thierry Henry 2002/03 20
Kevin De Bruyne 2019/20 20
Mesut Ozil 2015/16 19
Cesc Fabregas 2014/15 18
Kevin De Bruyne 2016/17 18
Frank Lampard 2004/05 18
Cesc Fabregas 2007/08 17

Attacking threat

He’s not just making goals for others though. Bukayo has also been shot-happy this season, having had 25 attempts on goal from the first seven matches. Only four players have had more attempts, and our man's total of nine goal involvements is the third-highest in the Premier League. 

He’s been involved in 60 per cent of our league goals in 2024/25, which have earned nine points so far based on how many we would have accrued without them. No players’ goals and assists have been more valuable in any other Premier League team. 

Six of Bukayo's nine Premier League goal involvements have either drawn us level or put us ahead. 

Premier League goal involvements 2024/25
Player Goals Assists G+A
Cole Palmer 6 5 11
Erling Haaland 10 0 10
Bukayo Saka 2 7 9
Mohamed Salah 4 4 8
Nicolas Jackson 4 3 7
Luis Diaz 5 1 6
Bryan Mbeumo 6 0 6
Ollie Watkins 4 2 6

In each of our last two games – at home to Leicester City and Southampton – he has created at least seven chances and taken at least seven shots. There are only 14 previous instances of a player managing to do that (since Opta’s stats in this category began in 20023/04), and Bukayo has become the first player to appear on the list twice. What’s more, he’s done it in back-to-back games. He’s the first player ever to do it for us.

Saka is also showing his value to the team and working hard when not on the ball too. Another list he features prominently on is winning possession most often in the opponents’ third of the pitch. He’s done that nine times – only three players have won the ball back more in that territory in the league. 

Players with 7+ shots plus chances created in a Premier League match
Date Player Team Opponent Shots  Chances 
30/08/2003 Gaizka Mendieta Middlesbrough Leeds 7 9
07/05/2005 Cristiano Ronaldo Man Utd West Brom 7 7
17/01/2009 Frank Lampard Chelsea Stoke 11 7
22/01/2011 Nani Man Utd Birmingham 8 7
21/04/2012 Gylfi Sigurdsson Swansea Bolton 7 7
13/05/2012 Carlos Tevez Man City QPR 7 7
13/05/2012 Samir Nasri Man City QPR 7 7
17/11/2012 Hatem Ben Arfa Newcastle Swansea 7 7
21/03/2015 David Silva Man City West Brom 10 11
29/10/2016 Juan Mata Man Utd Burnley 7 8
03/12/2016 Christian Eriksen Tottenham Swansea 7 7
15/09/2019 Gerard Deulofeu Watford Arsenal 7 8
12/08/2023 Eberechi Eze Crystal Palace Sheffield Utd 8 7
04/04/2024 Cole Palmer Chelsea Man Utd 9 8
28/09/2024 Bukayo Saka Arsenal Leicester 7 8
05/10/2024 Bukayo Saka Arsenal Southampton 7 7

Aiming for 50

Our No. 7's goal against the Saints was his 49th Premier League strike, and his next goal will make him the 11th Arsenal player to reach the half-century. He will also be our 40th men’s player to reach a half-century of league goals overall, and potentially the fifth-youngest. 

He has more than a year to become our youngest player to the landmark in the Premier League, another club record held by Henry, who was 24 years and 128 days old when he scored his 50th in the competition in 2001. Saka has played 177 Premier League matches, and has 42 assists to go with his 49 goals. Only seven players have reached a Premier League century of goal involvements for us. 

Youngest to 50 league goals for Arsenal
Date 50th League Goal Player League App No. Competition AGE
30/04/1932 Cliff Bastin 102 Division 1 20Y 47D
13/04/1974 Ray Kennedy 153 Division 1 22Y 259D
06/12/1969 John Radford 169 Division 1 22Y 287D
31/08/1935 Ted Drake 52 Division 1 23Y 15D
15/09/1979 Frank Stapleton 152 Division 1 23Y 67D
10/12/1963 Joe Baker 62 Division 1 23Y 146D
11/04/1992 Paul Merson 163 Division 1 24Y 22D
06/01/1906 Tim Coleman 99 Division 1 24Y 72D
23/12/2001 Thierry Henry 83 Premier League 24Y 128D
04/10/1958 David Herd 77 Division 1 24Y 172D
Most Premier League goals for Arsenal
Player  Goals  Played 
Thierry Henry 175 258
Ian Wright 104 191
Robin van Persie 96 194
Dennis Bergkamp 87 315
Olivier Giroud 73 180
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang  68 128
Theo Walcott 65 270
Robert Pires  62 189
Alexis Sanchez 60 122
Alexandre Lacazette  54 158
Bukayo Saka  49 177