Most Gooners won’t admit it, but Bukayo Saka hasn’t been in his finest form recently. The Arsenal right winger has become predictable and easy to mark out of the game.
Having said that, he hasn’t become a bad player this season, but I, like many others, believe he needs to relax. Over the last two seasons, he has played an amazing number of games for a 22-year-old. Playing in the Premier League is considerably harder than in any other league; exhaustion makes it difficult for a player to stay fresh and come up with new ways to offer something different.
On the Take on Podcast, pundit Anton Ferdinand believes it is time for Mikel Arteta to bench the Englishman, much as he has done with Gabriel Martinelli. Ferdinand reckons that time on the bench could offer the Hale End graduate a reality check, allowing him to recapture his form.
“In terms of Saka, sometimes as footballers, and I’ve been there, sometimes you need a kick up the bum. But whether you have one or not, he’s in a rut right now. Sometimes it might be ‘come out, because you’re not good enough right now’,” Ferdinand said.
“It gives him a reality check. I need to up my game again. Because he’s still young, by the way. He’s young, so young players need that. As long as it’s done to them in the right way and they’re dealt with properly after it, they need that. I think Saka is in need of that right now.”
Ferdinand is on point. Yes, Saka is still contributing; in 28 games, he has 9 goals and 12 assists, but his stats could be higher if he took a break to recharge, from which he may return stronger.
Arteta is too stubborn, but the message is clear: Bukayo Saka needs a rest; he should stop overusing him.
Martinelli appears to have had a reality check when benched against Crystal Palace; how hungry he was to impress after coming on as a substitute should signal Saka may regain his ‘hunger’ to amaze from the bench.
Darren N
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Yes.
There are certainly options available; Nelson starting against Forest is one. Dropping Saka and starting Jesus on the wing, sending a message to both Saka and Jesus. Start Nketiah or Havertz as the striker if you shift Jesus to the wing. Both Nketiah and Havertz need a performance, and it’s an opportunity against Forest.
The next match we can rotate 1 or 2 starters without disrupting the squad’s performance. We need to rotate and sharpen up everyone if we are going to make a run at the title.
Otherwise, overplaying the same starters will not lead us to the title. There are impactful players on the bench, it’s just up to Arteta to use them.
Hear hear.
And Nelson is chompin’ for a little bit of well deserved action
I think he needs help and a change of tactics, to give him more time and space. His stats say he is outperforming all around him, so not much wrong.
Can see why the gaffer tried so hard to sign Raphinha and the obsession he developed for Neto.
Saka should be benched for the Forest game, not only to renew his hunger for scoring goals but also to give him the opportunity to rest and re energise so that he comes out as a better player, the Saka we are seeing for the past seasons. After all, he is human and the amount of minutes he has played over the past seasons has surely taken a toll on him. Arteta should not be so stubborn and rest him till he finds his scoring touch again. He should be brought on in he second half like Martinelli and he will surely regain his lost touch.