Mikel Arteta compares Bukayo Saka to Lionel Messi after the Arsenal star bagged a goal and assist in their season opener against Wolves

Mikel Arteta compared Bukayo Saka to Lionel Messi as the winger’s goal and assist gave Arsenal’s title challenge a winning start against Wolves.

Saka assisted Kai Havertz’s headed opener in the first half before scoring himself on 74 minutes via a sharp cut in and strike inside goalkeeper Jose Sa’s near post.

When asked why players can’t stop Saka cutting in on his left foot, Arteta said: ‘With good players, it’s like that. 

'With (Lionel) Messi I know he’s gonna come here and put the ball there, but he does it all the time. You can’t stop him. That’s the quality of the players.’

Arteta also hailed the mentality of his international stars who played at the Euros and trained on their holidays.

Saka, Declan Rice and David Raya all missed Arsenal’s US pre-season tour, but returned for the season’s opener — just 34 days after the Euros ended.

He said: ‘I’m not surprised (they came back straight away). That was their mentality straight away after the last game. They said, “I’m gonna be ready for the first game”. I spoke to them after the summer, and tried to arrange a plan.

‘They wanted to come back and be here early. They were already getting prepared when they were on holidays. This is the mentality that we need.

‘If players are doing that compromise, it will grow around the team and they will step up the level. That’s what we need.’

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil said: ‘I thought we were good. I was pleased. I obviously don't like losing but we gave Arsenal a tough game. We restricted them to not too many chances.

‘In terms of being in the game and having a chance I felt that, at 1-0 down, we were more likely than them.

‘They found two moments of quality and we just missed a couple of ours.’