Bukayo Saka makes history after netting hat-trick for England against North Macedonia
Bukayo Saka achieved a significant milestone by netting his inaugural hat-trick for the English national team in their Euro 2024 qualifying match against North Macedonia. This remarkable feat has also etched his name in the annals of history.
In a captivating display, the 21-year-old Arsenal winger, Bukayo Saka, has not only become the youngest player but also the first Arsenal player since Theo Walcott in 2008 to score a hat-trick. Saka’s exceptional performance has left North Macedonia defenseless, as he tore them apart with his impressive skills.
At Old Trafford on June 19, Bukayo Saka proved to be a nightmare for Igor Angelovski’s side’s defense. His first goal came in the 38th minute when he skillfully evaded defenders in the opposition box and fired a shot past goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
In the 47th minute, Saka added to his tally with a spectacular goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a pass to him on the edge of the box, and Saka expertly controlled the ball with his chest before unleashing a powerful strike into the top left corner of the net. This goal was undoubtedly the highlight of his hat-trick performance.
In the 51st minute, completing his hat-trick, Bukayo Saka benefited from the excellent play of England captain Harry Kane. With Kane’s assistance, the young forward smoothly directed the ball into the back of the net, concluding a remarkable sequence of play.
This achievement serves as a fitting conclusion to an extraordinary season for Saka, who emerged from Arsenal’s Hale End academy. Throughout various competitions, he showcased his abilities by registering an impressive tally of 15 goals and 11 assists in 48 matches. In terms of his international career, Saka has now accumulated a total of 11 goals and seven assists in 28 appearances for the England national team.
Despite his impressive performances for both Arsenal and the England national team, Bukayo Saka’s manager at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, believes that there is still room for improvement. Arteta, the Spanish coach, praised the young forward’s progress at the Emirates and expressed his admiration for Saka’s development, as reported by Yahoo
“The consistency he’s shown at his age and at this level is something rare to see. He’s taken it with normality.”
Mikel Arteta maintains a firm belief that Bukayo Saka, despite his accomplishments, has the capacity for further improvement. The Arsenal manager emphasizes that Saka’s constant drive for growth stems from his unyielding nature, as he is never satisfied with his current level of performance.
“If you ask me if he has room for improvement, I would say: ‘Yes – a lot.’ He’s never satisfied, he always wants more and he can still do a lot of things better and more efficiently, but we are really pleased to have him.”
Bukayo Saka played a vital role in Arsenal’s title challenge last season, despite falling short in the end. His contributions were instrumental in the team’s performance.
Saka’s outstanding performances earned him recognition, as he was honored with the Premier League Player of the Month award for March.
Additionally, his remarkable displays throughout the season led to a nomination for the prestigious PFA Player of the Year award, narrowly missing out to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Bukayo Saka makes history after netting hat-trick for England against North Macedonia
