Bukayo Saka ‘is the best in Europe right now’, insists Martin Keown after his brilliant performance in 6-0 thrashing of Lens… as Arsenal legend says they have ‘laid down a marker’ in the Champions League

• Martin Keown has lumped praise on Arsenal following their 6-0 win against Lens 
• He also lauded Gunners’ star Bukayo Saka after he scored during the match  
• Gary Neville in a heated gilet at Goodison! He used to be a tough defender… what’s going on? Listen to It’s All Kicking Off 

Martin Keown has lauded Bukayo Saka as the ‘best in Europe right now’ and has claimed Arsenal’s 6-0 victory against Lens has ‘laid down a marker’ for other teams across Europe. 

It came after Mikel Arteta had tipped Saka to fire Arsenal into the knockout stages of the Champions League, and they did it in style, with the Gunners securing their berth in the next round with a game to spare. 

They started brightly in the match with four different players getting on the scoresheet inside 27 minutes, with Kai Havertz opening their goal account with his second goal in consecutive matches. 

And after the game, former Gunners defender Keown lauded their younger stars claiming the north London side showcased the quality of the English first division. 

‘Tonight we see the quality of what our Premier League teams are capable of, they blew Lens away,’ Keown said to TNT Sports.

Bukayo Saka helped Arsenal claim a 6-0 victory against Lens on Wednesday and secure their berth in the knockout stages of the Champions League

Martin Keown believes the Gunners have ‘laid down a marker’ to other teams around Europe 

The home side stunned Lens, scoring four goals in the first 27 minutes of the match 

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‘Of Course we lost the first game against them and they’ve bounced back. They’ve laid down a marker of how really good this Arsenal team is tonight.’ 

After Havertz took the first, Gabriel Jesus, who was assisted by Saka, doubled their lead, with the England forward following up with their third just two minutes later.

Keown lauded their younger talents, including Saka, 22, who has three goals and four assists in the Champions League so far this season. 

‘This is their first season for a lot of these young players. Looking at Saka we’re talking about the assists and the goals he scores – the best in Europe right now,’ Keown added.

‘That was really a message from Arsenal. I know they’re in their own back garden and Man City is there too – the best team in Europe right now. But who’s the next best? Is it Liverpool? Is it Arsenal? And who is it in Europe.’

Bounding in confidence, Arsenal added another two goals before the break, with Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard both finding the back of the net. 

Things were slightly different for the home side in the second half, with Lens pressing on Mikel Arteta’s side, but they held on to keep a clean sheet, with Jorginho topping the night off, scoring a penalty in the 86th minute. 

Arsenal are now unbeaten in their last four games across all competitions and Arteta lauded his team for progressing through to the next round of the Champions League in such a prolific fashion. 

‘It’s great because the schedule we have at the moment is crazy,’ the Spaniard told TNT Sports after the match. ‘We are already thinking about wolves now in 72 hours now. 

‘But it was a big night and thank you to our people in the stadium as well it was an incredible atmosphere and we are there.’

He added: ‘Today was the day to get it done. We had the chance to qualify and be top of the group and I think we’ve done it in a beautiful way.’

Mikel Arteta’s team have now won their group, with PSV unable to surpass them at the top despite winning against Sevilla on Wednesday

Kai Havertz opened the scoring netting his second goal in consecutive games 

When asked whether that was the best first half performance he’s seen his side deliver, he said: ‘It has to be when you score five goals in the champions league against a really good side. The boys deserve the credit – they were really good.

But Arsenal slowed down in the second half and had to keep their composure to control Lens who pressed on them to get a goal back. 

When asked whether the second half required discipline from his side, Arteta said: ‘Yes because you can become really sloppy and there were parts in the second half where you start to see different behaviours. 

‘But I think we haven’t conceded a goal in the Champions League at home scored 12 so it’s good, good stats.’

Gabriel Jesus added the second not long after, with Saka providing the Brazilian with an assist

Arsenal are now also top of the Premier League standings, one point clear of Man City

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