Playing with high intensity and not getting enough rest may be the reason why Saka is no longer explosive on Arsenal’s offensive front.
Arsenal’s attack is ineffective because Bukayo Saka is showing signs of overload. Photo: Opta Analyst.
Back in October 2022, when Arsenal was leading the Premier League last season. At that time, many fans did not dare to imagine the prospect that the “Gunners” would compete for the Premier League title. They are simply enjoying the series of matches with impressive form and hope that no injuries will ruin the season.
Therefore, worries appeared when Bukayo Saka got injured in the match between Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League. With Arsenal only needing 1 point to pass the group stage, many people must have thought that Saka would be taken off when the London team was leading 1-0 in the 75th minute. However, the young British talent still remained. played until the 85th minute before limping off the field.
Explaining his risky decision, Mikel Arteta said: “If you want to become the best, you need to adapt to pressure. Look at the world’s top players, they play with intensity 3 days/match, 70 matches/season and still shine whenever the team needs them. If we don’t put pressure on young players, their minds will lack the desire to play football.”
Bukayo Saka is on his way to becoming a top player in the Premier League. Photo: AFP
The Spanish captain’s statement implicitly affirms that if anyone wants to become a top player, anyone needs to get used to the intense competition schedule. However, is it too early to be physically demanding of a 22-year-old player like Saka?
According to statistics, since his first season with Arsenal’s first team, there have been 13 players who have played more in the Premier League than Saka. Of these, only 3 are strikers and the 22-year-old striker is the youngest player. Therefore, working too hard at all levels from the team to the club can cause Saka to get injured due to overload or affect his natural development.
More than a year after Arteta’s statement, Saka is still respected and has absolute trust. The English striker started every match in the Premier League this season, except for the victory against Manchester City due to injury. In particular, the match in which the striker born in 2001 was replaced as early as the 73rd minute, in the confrontation with Sheffield United. Saka even appeared for 66 minutes and was only taken off when the score was 5-0 for Arsenal in a devastating victory over Lens in the Champions League.
Saka turned Arsenal into the team that plays most effectively from set situations in the Premier League. Photo: Opta Analyst.
Regularly competing also shows Saka’s significant influence even though he is not directly involved in the goals. According to Opta Analyst, only Bruno Fernandes (54 times) and Kieran Trippier (52) created more chances than Saka (50). The English striker also topped the league in expected assists (6.53). In addition, Saka’s most notable contribution turned Arsenal into the team with the most goals from fixed situations, equal to Everton (11 goals).
On the contrary, when Saka did not shine, The Gunners clearly lost strength on the offensive front. The home team at Emirates Stadium has also become harmless in open situations, with the clearest evidence being a series of missed opportunities in the last two defeats against West Ham and Fulham. Saka’s goal against Fulham was also this player’s first goal from an open situation after 7 matches.
Bukayo Saka’s poor performance in Arsenal’s last 5 matches. Photo: Opta Analyst.
The opening goal in the 1-2 defeat to Fulham in round 20 of the Premier League was Saka’s first goal after 6 unsuccessful matches. The English winger played 90 minutes in all 5 matches and 89 minutes in the match against Brighton. This is not an alarming series of poor matches, but it is the longest period of time the English striker has been unable to score this season. Notably, the “Gunners” only won 2 wins, 1 draw and received 3 defeats when Saka did not score.
It is unavoidable for young players to have times when their performance declines in the professional football environment. However, Saka is having this problem at a time when Arsenal has an advantage in the championship race. With that decline, Arteta can consider a plan to let his student rest, thereby regaining his form. At the present time, the match against Liverpool in the FA Cup is the perfect opportunity to do that.
This is the arena where Arsenal has won the title 4 times in the past 10 years, and is not as highly rated as the Premier League. Arteta needs to calculate to avoid overloading Saka, as well as concentrate his efforts on the two top priority arenas this season: the Premier League and Champions League.
Saka shows signs of needing rest after a series of continuous, high-intensity matches at Arsenal. Photo: AFP
This decision is even more valid when the English striker returned strongly after resting in Arsenal’s loss to West Ham in the League Cup. After that match, the 22-year-old striker scored in three consecutive Premier League matches from live ball situations.
Not only that, Saka also had 2 goals and 2 assists in the first 2 matches of the Champions League this season. The star born in 2001 also had 4 goals and assists from live ball situations in 16 other appearances in the Premier League.
Letting Saka rest could make Arsenal’s attack less effective. However, this will bring long-term benefits when the English striker has the necessary recovery to come back stronger and contribute more in the Premier League championship race. In addition, The Gunners’ attack also needs fresh air as Reiss Nelson and Leandro Trossard can also play as wing strikers.
