Arsenal star Bukayo Saka flew his grandmother from Nigeria to London to attend the Gunners' final home game of the 2025/26 Premier League season against Burnley. The match took place at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory.
Grandmother from Kwara State
Saka's grandmother hails from Oro, a town in Kwara State located in the North Central region of Nigeria. She has deep ties to Yoruba ancestry and culture. A video posted on Arsenal's Instagram page showed the grandmother at the stadium, watching her grandson play a vital role in the team's push for the league title.
Saka shares a deep emotional connection with his grandmother, who gave him his first name 'Bukayo,' which means 'God has added to my joy' in Yoruba. In a 2022 interview with GQ Style, Saka explained, 'My grandma gave it to me because of its meaning. It means God has added joy to my life. She wanted me to add joy to the family, so she named me that. Every time she called me, that's probably what I meant to her.'
Key Assist and Title Push
Saka assisted Kai Havertz for Arsenal's only goal in the 1-0 win over Burnley. This victory pushed Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, bringing them closer to their first league title since the 2003/04 Invincibles season. The Gunners have finished second in the last three consecutive campaigns.
Arsenal could be confirmed as champions later that evening if Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Arteta's Post-Match Speech
After the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addressed the fans during the traditional lap of honor. He praised the supporters for their contribution to the team's success, saying, 'It's an absolute joy to witness the transformation and the contribution each of you have had to turn this place into the most beautiful place to enjoy and play our football games.'
Arteta added, 'This is the soul of this football club, and each of you contributes to that. So make sure that every time you step into this stadium, you face the responsibility now to keep it at this standard because it makes such a difference for us and all the players.' He also reminded fans of their responsibility ahead of the Champions League final in Budapest.
Supercomputer Prediction
According to reports, Opta's supercomputer predicted the Premier League champions after Arsenal's win. While Arsenal moved closer to the title, a mathematical scenario still exists where Manchester City could overtake them.
