If you had told an Arsenal fan at the start of the season that they would be seven points off the top of the Premier League with nine games to go, the simple assumption would have been that Bukayo Saka would be named the man of the match. Not really, though.
The Hale End graduate is starting to show all the signs of a player who was thrown into Arsenal’s side and given the responsibilities of a hero aged just 19.
At that time, those heroes were important. That’s why the Gunners are where they are, but it also came at the cost of Saka.
Now, it’s up to Mikel Arteta to find a solution and get the best out of a player whose struggles were on display for all to see against Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal’s problem with Saka
At 24 years old, Saka should be at the peak of his powers. Arsenal’s attack should focus on one of the most successful students at the Hale End in recent history.
Instead, he appears to be part of the problem for a team that often struggles to be as clinical in open play as it is from sets.
|
Bukayo Saka PL figures |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
23/24 |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
Goals |
16 |
6 |
6 |
|
It helps |
9 |
10 |
3 |
|
Successful dribbles |
49 |
41 |
48 |
|
Opportunities Created |
91 |
58 |
50 |
|
xG |
15.5 |
6.85 |
6.85 |
|
Minutes |
2,933 |
1,735 |
1,911 |
Since the 23/24 campaign when he was involved in the involvement of 24 goals, Saka has been in a clear decline. And the most notable thing about that decline is how his chance creation has declined.
Despite the fact that Arsenal signed out-and-out goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres last summer, Saka has only three assists so far this season and has created 50 chances – fewer than last season after playing more minutes.
That could be an indication of the type of player the England international is developing alongside. While it was Gabriel Jesus or Kai Havertz leading the line at 23/24, Saka recorded the best numbers of his career.
That could be one of Arteta’s solutions, but it’s not the only one. The Spaniard needs to look at other players around Saka at this stage of the season.
As the games come thick and fast, he can revive the winger by discarding one of Arsenal’s key players.
How Arteta can get more from Saka
There hasn’t been a better right back in the Premier League this season than Jurrien Timber. But that also means he will have a tough job finding another right-back who has started 27 of 29 league games this campaign.
It is a credit to the Dutchman’s consistency, although we must point out that he is not immune to the fatigue of the Premier League calendar as he has shown signs of it of late.
It was a night to forget for the £34m defender against Leverkusen and that far from helping Saka down the right. As Arsenal reporter Connor Humm notes, Timber simply “looks dead on his feet” at this stage of the season.
|
Timber vs Leverkusen |
Statistics |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Duels won |
2/3 |
|
Defense contributions |
2 |
|
Recovery |
3 |
|
He moved on to the final third |
3 |
It’s not the kind of performance Arsenal are used to seeing from the 24-year-old. The real context of his demotion in Germany can be seen when comparing the many games of the campaign.
In 90 minutes this season, Timber averaged more than five ground duels compared to the two he managed against Leverkusen. In addition, he tends to create, on average, one chance per game, which he failed to do against the Bundesliga side on Wednesday night.
That, combined with just three passes into the final third, didn’t help Saka. Given his struggles, the least the England international needs is consistent service.
It’s something he can’t get at the moment from the fractured Timbers, who should be released before Arsenal face worse results than the first leg in the Champions League.
Arsenal have two players to blame for Saka’s poor display v Leverkusen
Bukayo Saka is stuck in poor form for Arsenal.
