Arsenal are nonetheless chasing a quadruple title, however Mikel Arteta is aware of his staff must strengthen following Wednesday’s Champions League draw.
Kai Havertz grabbed a degree with a second-half penalty. Emirates will play Bayer Leverkusen subsequent week, which can be full of Gunners supporters, earlier than dealing with Bodø/Glimt within the quarter-finals.
However there isn’t any doubt that the Londoners look drained, and nobody embodies that higher than Bukayo Saka, the talisman of a staff observing greatness.
what is going on with bukayo saka
To start with, Saka is without doubt one of the greatest wingers on this planet. His vitality, enthusiasm and talent to create one thing nice from uncooked supplies led to him signing Arsenal’s richest contract in historical past.
Nevertheless, he has solely six objectives and 5 assists in 26 Premier League video games this season, and there are requires him to exchange Noni Maduke, with former Manchester United defender Paul Parker making the daring declare that he’s “higher than Bukayo Saka.”
Whereas this isn’t true, it reveals each the beneficial properties Madueke has made since swapping blue for pink final summer season and Saka’s personal struggles throughout the marketing campaign. Within the match in opposition to Leverkusen, they picked up the momentum within the remaining phases of the sport, however misplaced six of the eight video games and did not create any possibilities.
Saka is elite however not with out his flaws and there’s a level to the argument that he ought to characteristic in opposition to Everton on Saturday night time, particularly with a lot to play for over the following few months.
Bukayo Saka – Premier League profession by season | ||
|---|---|---|
place | app | Purpose + Help |
25/26 | 26 | 6+5 |
24/25 | twenty 5 | 6+11 |
23/24 | 35 | 16 + 12 |
22/23 | 38 | 14 + 12 |
21/22 | 38 | 11+7 |
20/21 | 32 | 5+4 |
19/20 | 26 | 1 + 5 |
18/19 | 1 | 0+0 |
The time has come for Madueke to step up, however some on the Gunners board are certain to look with pity on the previous youth participant who by no means made it to the primary staff and is now among the best gamers on this planet.
Hail Ender now higher than Saka
Arsenal’s Hale Finish Academy is without doubt one of the greatest on this planet. With so many gifted prospects rising, it could be inconceivable to maintain monitor of each one in every of them.
Nonetheless, the Bayern Munich star is now “the very best right-winger on this planet”, in line with Occasions reporter Hamza Khaliq-Rounat, and it have to be irritating that Michael Oliseh was one of many gamers who slipped by way of the arms of his coach.
The 24-year-old has progressed steadily since becoming a member of the German facet from Crystal Palace in 2024, scoring 10 objectives and offering 16 assists in 23 Bundesliga video games this 12 months. This spectacular efficiency is additional proof that he has been a “world-class participant since his time at Palace”, as analyst Spencer Mossman put it.
Certainly, with 26 assists in all competitions this season, Oliseh is the highest help maker in all of Europe and it would not seem like that particular person honor can be taken away from him.
Main help producers all through Europe (2025/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
participant | app | help |
michael orise | 37 | 26 |
Luis Diaz | 36 | 17 |
Bruno Fernandes | 28 | 15 |
federico dimarco | 36 | 15 |
Lamine Yamal | 37 | 15 |
The previous Eagles maverick is growing into an excellent participant, the architect of Bayern Munich’s assault and the proper associate for Harry Kane (additionally a former Gunners teenager, by the best way).
On condition that Arsenal have proven curiosity this season within the participant who left Arsenal in 2009 as an academy scholar, he finally didn’t settle in north London and as a substitute moved to Chelsea, the place he spent greater than six of his early life.
There is no such thing as a doubt that Oliseh is the very best participant in the intervening time, forward of the likes of Saka, Lamine Yamal and Mohamed Salah.
After all, that does not imply Saka will not take that spot away from him within the coming years, and I do not suppose many Gunners followers would commerce Olise for his or her star participant.
Orise could also be higher than Saka at this level. A transfer from Arsenal to Munich will inevitably enhance Saka’s numbers, however he has emerged as one of many world’s greatest wingers in a tricky division just like the Premier League since his teenagers, and is greater than able to main Arteta’s mission in the direction of sustained success at residence and overseas, as he has achieved over the previous few years.
Arteta may carry again Saka by splashing £34m on ‘caught’ Arsenal star
It has been a troublesome few months for Saka at Arsenal.
