Saka responds to O'Leary criticism with goal and assist vs Lille

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Bukayo Saka did not need long to make a point. Days after David O'Leary questioned his form on talkSPORT, Saka came off the bench to set up a goal and score another as Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

The former Arsenal captain had criticised Saka following the 2-1 win over Leeds United at the weekend, telling talkSPORT: "I honestly don't think he is [in top form]. I really like the guy, but I do think one thing, seeing him grow up and get into the team before everyone knew how good he was, I think he goes down too much now. I think he's looking for that touch to go down and the player I saw before that was much more positive, he was not going to let the full back put him on the deck, or anybody else."

O'Leary went further, questioning whether Saka has lived up to the bumper new contract that made him one of the highest paid players in the country. "He's not the player that he was, without a doubt. He's still a top player, but is he the player that got this fantastic new contract at Arsenal to make him one of the top paid players in the country? I don't think so at the moment," he said, before adding that Saka "has to step up again" given how well the rest of the squad, including Declan Rice, had performed against Leeds.

Saka delivers an immediate response

Introduced as a substitute for Noni Madueke in the 65th minute at the Emirates, Saka wasted little time getting involved. Moments after Jurrien Timber had opened the scoring, Saka burst down the right and whipped a low cross into the Lille box that Eberechi Eze turned home to make it 2-0.

Saka then got on the scoresheet himself, curling home a finish from close range to seal the 3-0 win, shrugging during his celebration as he did so.

Arsenal's European form continues

The victory over Lille means Arsenal have won both of their opening Champions League group matches, with the club currently sitting third in the league table.

Attention now turns back to domestic matters, with Mikel Arteta's side facing Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday, October 18. Arsenal then return to Champions League action away at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, October 21, in what will be another significant test of their European credentials this season.

For now, Saka has given his own answer to the latest round of criticism, and it came in the form of a goal and an assist inside the same half hour.