Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that Bukayo Saka has not been at his best this season for Arsenal and ‘could do better’.
Up to this point in the new Premier League season, the Gunners have been flying. Indeed, they sit top of the table going into the current international break.
Having swept past Brentford in a 3-0 win away from home last time out, Arsenal have won all but one of their opening seven games in the league. However, it seems as though not everyone has been at their best.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts claimed that Saka hasn’t ‘hit the heights’ by his own lofty standards and is one player who could improve.
He explained (9:42): “He’s got four assists and one goal in seven Premier League games this season. I think only Kevin De Bruyne has got more assists than him this season. He’s got more assists than any other player in the Arsenal squad. And yet, I’m still saying he could do better.
“It’s like that feels a little bit harsh, five key goal involvements in seven Premier League games, but there’s no doubt that he has not hit the heights yet that we’ve seen in the last two seasons.
“And maybe that’s a positive because that just means that the rest of the team are doing what they should be doing, and the sole reliance on performing isn’t just falling on Saka’s shoulders – which, let’s face it, it has done really for the last couple of years. But now everything doesn’t have to go through Saka anymore because everyone else is playing well.”
TIF thoughts on Bukayo Saka and Arsenal…
With five goal involvements in seven league games, Saka certainly has been contributing for the Gunners in attack. And, as Watts points out, Manchester City star De Bruyne is the only player to have more assists (six) this term.
Still, the journalist might be fair in his criticism. After all, the winger has Arsenal’s player of the season last term, netting 12 goals and providing seven assists in all competitions – becoming only the fourth player to win the award back-to-back for the club – and so it is only natural that he should be held to a higher standard.
Saying that, if this is Saka while he is playing below his top level, then the idea of him finding his best form will be a pretty exciting prospect for fans – especially when their side is already top of the league.
Do you think Bukayo Saka has been at his best this season?
Yes
No
