Arsenal starboy Bukayo Saka has made a promising start to the 2023–24 Premier League season. Injuries plus his combination with Odegaard yet to gel like it did last season have held him back, so he hasn’t been as influential as he should have been.
But he has tried hard, and his statistics show he still played a significant role in Arsenal currently being on top of the league standings, with four goals and five assists in 12 appearances.
That said, Saka provides more than just goals and assists. No Gunner plays the right wing like he does. He dominates Arsenal’s right wing, causing opposing full backs problems while creating chances for his teammates. He is a player Gooners look to for something magical.
Aside from Arteta’s coaching and his efforts on the training pitch, one may wonder: What helps Saka be as good as he is game after game?
In a recent interview following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Brentford, the young English winger stated that he re-watches his games and how he plays in order to improve his play. Other than that, Saka went on to admit that he has felt as if he is given extra attention from opposing defences in recent matches. He claims that every time he has the ball, he is continuously marked by two or more players, mirroring Gabriel Martinelli’s remarks.
The 22-year-old told reporters, as per Goal, “I feel like a lot of games I’m facing a double team with two guys on me, and it’s the same for Gabi (Martinelli). It’s happening in every game. I keep watching all my games back trying to find a solution, what I can do better. In the end, I just feel like I need to understand that this is how it’s going to be this season, and I just need to deal with it and keep finding a way like I did today. That’s what I need to keep doing.
“The managers know a bit more how we play and it’s up to us to adapt in each game and to find a solution. Of course, each game is different, but we know that we can be a lot better. We’re especially working on breaking teams down, but we’re still getting really good results, and we’re top of the league. So we can be really happy.”
Having said that, hopefully he will continue to come up with fresh methods to deal with tricky scenarios through continual analysis of his games. He seems to be coping quite well so far!
Daniel O
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If our Manager gave our front three more license to rotate their positions, it might alleviate the burden on Saka and Martinelli, and create more problems for the opposition defence.
Needs better fullback support, also he needs to drag those two defenders out of position when he is off the ball by drifting in the middle of swapping over with Gabriel to confuse them.
One obvious answer to the usual double teaming on both wings, would be to for MA to stop talking about forwards interchanging positions and to START ENACTING PROPERLY what he has preached for sometime, but not done.
A LOT of our forward play is incredibly static, with that static play making it far easier for teams to defend against us. Esp compared with last season.
Who can ,with honesty and a brain , deny that truth?
Many have been calling for Saka to be subbed sometimes,suggesting he’s not playing well but I often disagree because he is getting to that level that all elite players get to,where they can effect games even when not playing well. That amazing cross to Havertz for the goal is a good example. And before that,he was responsible for our best chance : a good cross for a Jesus header which resulted in Trossard’s disallowed goal.And lots of times this season he’s found Trossard too. He used to find Auba at the far post with that cross in seasons past. He’s our main creative outlet at the moment. Our other forwards should be more proactive in making runs into the box and he can find them.
One thing with double teaming our wingers is that it could mean two of our own players could be free/unmarked. We just need to find a way making use of this extra man. The free player(s) can make runs into the box or exploit the vacated space left by the opposition defenders to try something creative- like a through pass for example. We need to find a way of making more use of the central areas when defenders ‘lock’ the wide areas.Somehow I feel Partey and Timber would have helped with ball progression in central areas because of their close control,making them press resistant. If Partey can’t get fit,the club should try getting someone with a similar profile.