Mikel Arteta has hailed Bukayo Saka's maturity and labelled what the Arsenal winger is producing as "unbelievable".
Saka produced two assists and scored Arsenal's third goal in the Gunners' 3-1 comeback win over Southampton on Saturday.
The England international leads the way for chances created (27), big chances created (12), assists (seven) and expected assists (3.16) in the Premier League this season, while only Manchester City's Bernardo Silva (19) has crafted more opportunities from open play than Saka (17).
With Martin Odegaard out injured, Saka has also taken on the responsibility of captain, and Arteta is thrilled with what the 23-year-old is delivering.
"That's the maturity and that's the steps that players have to do. He has been long enough in the team now, he has the right to have that role," said the Arsenal manager, as quoted by Sky Sports.
"He believes in that, that he has the capacity to change games, to decide games, like many other players, and he wants to be at the top.
"I think it's another step ahead, and it's what he wants.
"Do it at home, do it away, do it in big games, in the not-so-big games, and when the team needs it, not when it's 3-0. That is what defines a top, top player.
"What he's doing at his age is unbelievable. We have many examples of that as well."
Saka's next goal in the Premier League will be his 50th for Arsenal.
Since his debut in late 2018, only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (50) has netted more goals in the competition for the Gunners than Saka (49).
Indeed, in that time, Saka leads Arsenal for chances created (320), big chances created (54) and assists (42), having played 177 times in the top flight, 35 times more than any other Gunners player.
Carvajal signs new deal with Madrid after season-ending injury
Dani Carvajal has signed a contract extension with Real Madrid until June 2026.
The full-back could miss the rest of the 2024-25 season after sustaining a cruciate ligament injury in Saturday's 2-0 win over Villarreal.
Carvajal's contract was due to expire at the end of the campaign, but Madrid responded almost immediately by extending his stay with the club for at least a further year.
The 32-year-old, who has been with Los Blancos since the age of 10, has won six Champions League titles and four LaLiga crowns during his time at Santiago Bernabeu, while amassing 427 appearances.
Manchester City 2-0 West Ham: Hemp hits 50th goal in routine win
Manchester City comfortably saw off West Ham 2-0 to move top of the Women's Super League, with Lauren Hemp making history in the process.
With Chelsea's fixture against Manchester United having been postponed, City took the chance to, at least temporarily, move into top spot.
Gareth Taylor's team were well in control throughout Sunday's contest at Joie Stadium, where England international Hemp put City ahead in the 10th minute.
Hemp raced onto Mary Fowler's pass before calmly creating space to plant a neat finish low into the left-hand corner, bringing up her 50th WSL goal.
She should have doubled her tally early in the second half, only to slice over a gaping goal from point-blank range.
Fowler made no such mistake as she headed home in the 71st minute, with the Australian latching onto a brilliant cross from Khadija Shaw, who had capitalised on a slack backpass having just come on as a substitute.
Camila Saez sent a tame free-kick into the hands of Ayaka Yamashita late on, with West Ham unable to truly test the hosts, who also had Jill Roord back in action after her long-awaited return from a knee injury.
Data Debrief: Half-century up for Hemp
While Hemp will be frustrated with her second-half miss, she has a slice of WSL history to her name. At the age of 24 years and 60 days, she became the youngest player to hit the 50-goal mark in the competition.
Kinga Szemik, the West Ham goalkeeper, also made two fine saves to deny Hemp later on.
Hemp finished with 1.18 expected goals (xG) from a game-leading six shots, as City finished with 2.43 xG to West Ham's 0.49.
Ross County 1-2 Celtic: Kuhn late show keeps Rodgers' side perfect
Nicolas Kuhn's late winner helped Celtic maintain their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season with a narrow 2-1 victory over Ross County.
Brendan Rodgers' side, who lost 7-1 to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek, struck twice in the final quarter of an hour at the Global Energy Stadium, where Ronan Hale's first-half penalty had given the hosts the lead.
Hale drilled home from 12 yards at the second attempt after his initial spot-kick was denied by Kasper Schmeichel, who was penalised for creeping off his line.
It was the first league goal Celtic had conceded this season, but the Hoops turned things around late on.
They equalised in the 76th minute when Callum McGregor's goalbound strike was turned in from close range by Alistair Johnston.
The full-back then turned provider two minutes from normal time as he found Kuhn, who stepped inside before slotting past Ross Laidlaw via a slight deflection.
Data Debrief: Celtc the late show experts
The Hoops have now scored five goals in the last 15 minutes of their seven matches this season, more than any other side in the Scottish Premiership.
But, once again, the hosts were left to wonder what might have been.
Indeed, they have now lost seven points from winning positions this term, the most of any side.
Meanwhile, they were beaten in the league after scoring the opening goal for the first time in 23 games, stretching back to their defeat by St. Johnstone in December 2022.
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