England flew out of the gates like a side possessed. Barely three minutes in, Morgan Rogers, the Aston Villa midfielder making his mark, struck a clean, first-time finish past Karl Darlow to give Tuchel’s men the lead. Marc Guehi was in the mood for assists, setting up Rogers for the opener before turning provider again moments later. His header inside the six-yard box allowed Ollie Watkins, deputising for the injured Harry Kane, to poke home from close range and make it 2-0 inside 11 minutes. Then came Saka’s moment. He trapped a fast pass from Ezri Konsa before cutting inside, and with a swift swing of his left boot, the ball rocketed off his instep and dipped viciously into the top corner. The Wembley crowd erupted as the Arsenal winger grinned from ear to ear, the look of a man finally free from pain and frustration.
After months battling a hamstring injuries that forced him to miss England’s March and September fixtures, Saka announced his return to the international fold with an emphatic reminder of his brilliance. A month ago, he was sidelined, questioning his body’s limits. Now, he’s the beating heart of both Arsenal and England once again.
“I started this season by picking up an injury, which kind of killed me a bit but I’m starting to feel good again,” he said post-match. “I’m still not at my sharpest but I’m starting to feel good again and I’ve scored in the last three games so I’m happy with that and want to continue like that. I’ve missed a lot of England games, especially under Thomas (Tuchel) as well and I haven’t scored for a while either so to come back and put the ball in the back of the net is a special feeling and one I’m really excited about.”
While some might fear the competition for attacking spots under Tuchel, Saka relishes it. With players like Jarrod Bowen, Cole Palmer, and Jack Grealish all battling for wing positions, the Arsenal ace says it only fuels his drive.
“It’s pretty new to me but at the same time, like I said, it’s fair and it’s healthy and it’s only going to get the best out of me and any other players that are around me,” he said. “It’s just about us pushing each other and trying to get each other to perform at the highest level.”
Saka’s goal wasn’t just another Wembley wonder, but it was also historic. His strike took his England tally to 13 goals, making him Arsenal’s highest-scoring men’s player in Three Lions history, overtaking Cliff Bastin’s long-standing record of 12. It was almost poetic that the record came five years to the day since Saka made his England debut, also against Wales, back in October 2020. For Arsenal, it’s another badge of pride. Few players have carried the Gunners’ flag for England as proudly or as productively as Saka. In surpassing names like Bastin and Ian Wright, he’s etched his name in both club and national folklore.
After demolishing Serbia 5-0 in Belgrade last month, the Three Lions sit top of Group K in World Cup qualifying, five wins from five, 13 goals scored, none conceded. Tuchel’s men are playing with swagger, balance, and belief, the hallmarks of a potential world champion. Next up for Tuchel’s side is a trip to Latvia on Tuesday night, where they’ll aim to extend their perfect run in Group K. England cruised past the same opponents 3-0 at Wembley earlier this year, thanks to goals from Reece James, Harry Kane, and Eberechi Eze. Saka will be looking to continue with his rich vein of form. The months of pain, the lonely rehab sessions, the doubts, all got washed away by one swing of his boot at Wembley on Thursday evening.
