Saka Leads Arsenal To Victory Against Wolves In Season Opener

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Kai Havertz praised Bukayo Saka as "unbelievable" after Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Wolves in their Premier League opener. Saka provided a brilliant cross for Havertz to score the first goal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Later, Saka scored himself by cutting inside Rayan Ait-Nouri and shooting low into the near post.

Arsenal displayed a strong performance in the first half but relied on David Raya for crucial saves. The atmosphere shifted in the second half as Wolves posed more challenges. Manager Mikel Arteta was pleased with his team's ability to secure three points, especially after finishing second to Manchester City last season.

"I am really happy," Arteta said. "With the first game, you have some uncertainty in how you will respond. We had our moment after 1-0 when we were not in control but after Saka's goal we were much more comfortable."

Speaking to Sky Sports, Havertz expressed his admiration for Saka: "Saka is unbelievable. There are not a lot of players like him on the planet and he is still so young. He can get better. It is very rare to see a young player like this perform every week at the highest level."

Arteta also highlighted areas for improvement despite the win: "The lack of control in the second half [we can improve], we gave so many simple balls away. We also had to finish situations better but overall very happy."

Wolves' Performance

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil felt his team performed well and believed they had chances to score when the game was at 1-0. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "I thought we were good. I was pleased. I obviously don't like losing but we gave Arsenal a tough game."

O'Neil added, "In terms of being in the game and having a chance I felt that, at 1-0 down I felt we were more likely than them."

Arteta acknowledged Wolves' efforts and noted how his team's changes strengthened their position: "We knew Wolves could change the game and they did in the second half but with our changes we became a bit stronger."

Despite some areas needing improvement, Arteta was satisfied with Arsenal's pre-season preparation: "We certainly are. We had a really good pre-season. There are things to improve for sure, but overall very happy."

O'Neil discussed missed opportunities: "They found two moments of quality and we just missed a couple of ours." He emphasised focusing on small details against top teams like Arsenal.

The match showcased Arsenal's potential for the season ahead while highlighting areas for growth and improvement.