Arsenal recorded an outstanding 5-0 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday night, and they could have even scored more.
Mikel Arteta’s side put on a show in the second half as braces from Kai Havertz and Ben White added to Leandro Trossard’s opening goal.
Martin Odegaard was the best player on the pitch despite not scoring himself, whilst Thomas Partey and Declan Rice also heavily impressed.
Bukayo Saka had some good moments in an overall positive display, but still looked fatigued at times after what has been a difficult few weeks for the winger. Nevertheless, he still produced in the game, as he assisted Havertz’s second strike against his former employers.
This assist now means that Saka has matched the Premier League assist total of one former Arsenal fan favourite.
Bukayo Saka matches Santi Cazorla for Arsenal Premier League assists
Saka’s pass to Havertz saw the German unleash a fierce low shot, which hit the post and went in to make it 4-0 to the home side, and this was his 35th assist in the Premier League.
This draws him level with former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, who managed that same total in his six-year spell at the Emirates.
Cazorla arrived as an established Spain International and La Liga star, and became a fan favourite given his incredible technical ability on the ball.
The Spaniard notched up 29 goals and 35 assists in 129 Premier League appearances, across a variety of positions on both wings, in attacking midfield and later in a deeper role.
Saka has managed that same total in 167 games across the competition, also performing in different roles having initially broken through as a left-back, and also has 45 goals to Cazorla’s 25.
Bukayo Saka moves up Arsenal Premier League assist charts
Saka has now matched Cazorla in Arsenal’s assist history, and is now ninth in the Premier League rankings within the club.
His total of 35 puts him just below Robert Pires on 38, and Theo Walcott on 42.
Next above him are Robin van Persie with 45, Aaron Ramsey with 48, Dennis Bergkamp with 50, Mesut Ozil with 55, Cesc Fabregas with 71, and Thierry Henry top of the charts with 81.
READ MORE: Aaron Ramsey’s best-ever Arsenal teammate
Given that Saka is still just 22, and plays in a creative winger role, he will back himself to one day reach Henry’s total over the course of his career, although there is still a long way to go.
Nevertheless, the fact that Saka is level with a player as creative as Cazorla, highlights what an outstanding player he has developed into since his breakthrough from the Hale End Academy.