Bukayo Saka: Arsenal’s Away Victories Show They’ve Evolved into a More Mature, Title-Ready Side

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka believes this season’s performances prove that Mikel Arteta’s side have grown tougher, smarter, and more capable of handling pressure — especially away from home.

Speaking after Arsenal’s gritty 1–0 win over Fulham on Saturday, Saka highlighted three games — Fulham, West Ham, and Newcastle United — as defining examples of how the Gunners have stepped up compared to previous seasons.

“This season we’ve beaten Newcastle, who we’ve struggled against in the past away, West Ham as well, who we had problems with at home, and now Fulham away.
We’ve struggled with these fixtures before, so it’s points that we’ve been picking up that in recent seasons they’ve been picking up,” Saka told Sky Sports.

Last season, Arsenal fell just short again, finishing second in the Premier League behind Liverpool — their third second-place finish in the modern era. But this time, Saka believes the mental strength and consistency they’ve shown, especially on difficult grounds, tell a different story.

The Fulham match wasn’t easy — Arsenal had to grind it out against a resilient home side. Yet Saka’s determination was evident.

“It was a tough start to the game, but in my mind, it’s like I just want to get the ball and make things happen,” he said. “Even if I miss one, I miss two, I’m going to keep going. I grew into the game, and I’m happy with my performance.”

Manager Mikel Arteta was equally pleased, praising his players for their patience and persistence, which extended the Gunners’ winning streak to five games across all competitions.

⚽ Opinion: Arsenal’s True Growth Lies Beyond the Scoreline

Arsenal’s evolution this season isn’t just about results — it’s about resilience. These are the kind of away fixtures that used to haunt them; now they define them.

Saka’s comments reflect a squad no longer intimidated by history or tough atmospheres. There’s a quiet confidence around this Arsenal team — a belief that they can not only play beautiful football but also win ugly when it matters most.

That balance between flair and fight has long been the missing ingredient in Arsenal’s title ambitions. Now, with players like Saka leading by example and Arteta refining his system each week, the Gunners are beginning to look less like promising challengers and more like legitimate contenders.

If they keep this form — and keep their young core firing — this might just be the season Arsenal finally turn “almost” into “achieved.”