Bukayo Saka thought he was out there on his own for assists in consecutive Premier League games, only for it to be taken away.
He turned up when it really mattered with a key contribution to a decisive Arsenal goal as they left it late to beat Leicester 4-2.
In all of Arsenal’s previous Premier League games this term, the 23-year-old England star had made one assist.
Those came against Wolves, Aston Villa, Brighton, Tottenham, last weekend against Man City, and he thought he’d done it against Leicester..
Saka swung in a late corner from the right when the teams were locked at 2-2, with Leandro Trossard finding the net via a deflection.
At the time, Saka thought he’d made six straight assists and become the first Premier League player to do so in the first six games of the season.
However, that honour was retrospectively taken away from him as Trossard’s shot was diverted into goal by Wilfried Ndidi, and it’s gone down as an own goal by the Nigeria midfielder.
Arsenal had been leading 2-0 before the Foxes mounted a second-half comeback to draw level.
Trossard and Kai Havertz struck late at the Emirates Stadium to snatch all three points.
It’s no shame to just miss out on the accolade, some of the exceptional players who have graced the English top-flight haven’t managed it either.
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Not even Manchester United hero Ryan Giggs – the Premier League’s leading assist maker (162) managed to do so.
And neither has Kevin De Bruyne who is in second place, even with goal machines Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland ahead of him.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to impress from the wing in his early Man United days.
Thierry Henry set the record of five in 2004/05 when the Gunners were on a rampant run.
At the tail end of their famous 49-game unbeaten run, Henry got assists in wins over Everton, Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Norwich, and Fulham.
However, he was unable to create a goal in a 2-2 draw at home against Bolton Wanderers, although he did score the opening strike of the game.
Saka created another goal for one of his teammates against Leicester, and he surpassed one of his idols.
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In 2020, he said: “He’s a hero to me for what he’s done for my club, what he’s done in football.
“I loved his personality, I loved the way he played, the goals he scored. He’s just an amazing person – he was amazing at football but he’s an amazing person too and that’s probably why he inspires me.”
