Arsenal enjoyed a 3-0 thumping of Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, with Bukayo Saka seemingly determined to send a message to his biggest critics

Bukayo Saka wasted very little time in silencing David O'Leary's criticism as Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners over Lille on Tuesday evening.

The Englishman came under scrutiny from the former Gunners captain at the weekend, despite being a part of Mikel Arteta's team which secured a 2-1 win over an in-form Leeds United.

Riccardo Calafiori and Bruno Guimaraes clinched all three points with a rapid response to James Justin's second-half opener, to ensure the pressure stayed firmly on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.

However, O'Leary was not so impressed by Saka's form during the encounter at the Emirates Stadium. Speaking on talkSPORT, the 68-year-old said: "I honestly don't think he is [in top form].

"I really like the guy, but I do think one thing, seeing him grow up and get into the team before everyone knew how good he was, I think he goes down too much now.

"I think he's looking for that touch to go down and the player I saw before that was much more positive, he was not going to let the full-back put him on the deck, or anybody else."

He added: "He's not the player that he was, without a doubt. He's still a top player, but is he the player that got this fantastic new contract at Arsenal to make him one of the top-paid players in the country? I don't think so at the moment.

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"I don't know what's happened. But when I look at the team and how it's progressing, whose playing well and how great Declan Rice was yesterday, I think Saka has to step up again."

Quick to prove his doubters wrong, Saka was a cornerstone in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Lille on Tuesday night, emerging as a substitute for Noni Madueke in the 65th minute and making an immediate impact.

While Timber opened the scoring for the hosts moments earlier, Saka burst down the right-hand side before whipping the ball hard and low into the Lille area.

From there, Eberechi Eze ran onto it before driving it past Berke Ozer to make it 2-0.

Capping off a star-studded display, Saka then ensured all three points remained in north London with a curled effort toward the far post from close range, shrugging nonchalantly during his celebration.

Thanks to two wins from two Champions League matches, Arsenal sit third in the league table. Arteta will now turn his attention to a Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest come Sunday, October 18, before the Gunners travel to the Allianz Arena to play Bayern Munich in their next European adventure on Wednesday, October 21.