Leader of the Premier League, eighth finalist in the Champions League, finalist in the Carabao Cup and quarter-finalist in the FA Cup, Arsenal is having a magnificent season from the point of view of results. And if the dream of a major title is present, everything seems to be going well for the Gunners like their nugget Max Dowman who is slowly making his mark. However, like a match without a corner, certain grains of sand disrupt Mikel Arteta’s oiled machine. Arriving this summer, striker Viktor Gyökeres has long been disappointing, but seems to have passed the second in 2026. If this black spot seems to dissipate, two remain. Captain Martin Ødegaard continues to go through the season like a ghost (1 goal and 7 assists in 27 games), but he is not the only one to experience difficulties. If his case is less dramatic, Bukayo Saka is far from being at the expected level.
If he is the one who has been leading Arsenal’s attack for 5 years, the English winger has been quite irregular since the start of the season. Author of 9 goals and 7 assists in 40 matches, he does not have dramatic statistics, but in content it is much less sharp than in recent seasons. Disturbed during the season by hamstring and hip injuries, Bukayo Saka also had to digest long negotiations leading to his extension with the London club until June 2031.Bukayo Saka has signed a new long-term contract with us. Our 24-year-old joined our Hale End academy at the age of eight in May 2010 and has since become the top scorer, assist and most capped player in our current squad – with 78 goals and almost 300 club appearances in all competitions.», Confided the London club.
It’s a mess for Saka
Less comfortable with his physique this season, Bukayo Saka is less sharp in his dribbling and has seen his decisive impact halve compared to the previous season. Enough to give rise to certain criticisms across the Channel. “He was honest, but his energy wasn’t there. He was captain tonight, he should have shown more character» pointed out former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle to Metro after Arsenal’s draw against Wolverhampton (2-2). On the BBCMatthew Upson did not like his production in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen (1-1): “Saka did not feel any satisfaction in the individual duels, and this is mainly due to Exequiel Palacios’ reading of the game. He seems mentally in trouble. He’s just not in it, he sees three players in front of him and he tries to dribble past them all.»
Although he is well aware that Bukayo Saka has not always been at the expected level, Theo Walcott, former Arsenal player, is not worried about the English winger as he confided to Mirror : «I think it’s been a little down this year, but we’re seeing signs of recovery at the right time. We tend to believe that the most important players shine in decisive moments, but we sometimes forget his young age and everything he has already accomplished.» Same thing for coach Mikel Arteta: “what he does for us, for this club, is simply incredible at his age and he continues to have a huge impact on us. He can achieve an individual performance which probably does not reflect his level, like any human being, like any player in the world. But overall, when you consider his strength and the impetus he brings to the team, it’s just incredible. »
If the alarm signal has not yet been sounded on the Arsenal side, concern remains around Bukayo Saka who is still looking for his benchmark performance at the end of the season. Especially since the results in 2026 are unflattering with 2 goals and 2 sacrifices in 15 matches played. Aware that he is capable of bringing more, the main person spoke after the victory against Everton (2-0) about his personal situation: “as a striker, you sometimes want to contribute more to the statistics, but you also want to win. As an attacker, sometimes you want to contribute more to the statistics, but you also want to win. This Tuesday against Bayer Leverkusen for the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League, Bukayo Saka will be keen to react and show that he can carry Arsenal into a tasty final straight.
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