Bukayo Saka believed he had set a new Premier League record for consecutive assists, only to see the achievement taken away in the aftermath of Arsenal’s 4-2 victory over Leicester City.
The England international had played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s late surge to secure three points, but his claim to the record books was dashed by a late decision.
The 23-year-old winger had assisted in all of Arsenal’s previous Premier League games this season. His contributions came in matches against Wolves, Aston Villa, Brighton, Tottenham, and, most recently, Manchester City.
As Arsenal fought to break a 2-2 deadlock against Leicester, Saka thought he had extended that run to six consecutive assists, swinging in a corner that led to Leandro Trossard finding the net with a deflected effort.
At the time, Saka believed he had become the first player in Premier League history to notch assists in the opening six games of a season. However, this milestone was not to be.
Upon review, it was ruled that Trossard’s shot had deflected off Leicester’s Wilfried Ndidi, and the goal was reclassified as an own goal by the Nigerian midfielder. As a result, Saka’s assist was rescinded.
Arsenal had initially surged ahead, taking a 2-0 lead, only for Leicester to rally in the second half and draw level. But late strikes from Trossard and Kai Havertz ensured that Mikel Arteta’s side walked away with all three points, even if Saka was left without his historic assist.
Missing out on the record is no small disappointment, but Saka is in illustrious company. Some of the Premier League’s greatest ever players, including Ryan Giggs, the division’s all-time assist leader with 162, never managed six straight assists in a season.
Even Kevin De Bruyne, with all his creative brilliance, has not achieved such a feat, despite having world-class strikers like Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland ahead of him.
Cristiano Ronaldo, during his first stint at Manchester United, also failed to break this particular record, and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry remains the benchmark.
In the 2004/05 season, Henry set the Premier League record with assists in five consecutive matches. During that spell, as the Gunners were nearing the end of their 49-game unbeaten run, Henry created goals in victories over Everton, Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Norwich, and Fulham.
However, his streak ended in a 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers, despite the Frenchman scoring the opener.
While Saka may have missed out on the assist record, his performance against Leicester was another reminder of his immense talent and value to Arsenal.
His ability to create chances and his impact in crucial moments have drawn comparisons to some of the greatest players to wear the Arsenal shirt, and his admiration for Thierry Henry remains clear.
Back in 2020, Saka reflected on Henry’s influence, saying:
“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.”