It feels absurd to say that Bukayo Saka is struggling to find form in the season that Arsenal could yet stroll towards Premier League glory and more.
But the reality is that the winger, with nine goals and seven assists, simply hasn't reached the heights that everyone in North London knows he is capable of.
Bukayo-Saka-Arsenal-Leverkusen
Champions in the past always had a clear standout player who could drag them to victory with one, world-class moment. Liverpool had Mohamed Salah last year. Manchester City had Erling Haaland the year before. Chelsea had Eden Hazard in 2014/15. The list could go on and on.
Saka should be that player for Arsenal. Except that's where the Gunners have been unique. His struggles have forced Mikel Arteta to turn Arsenal's set-piece strength into his real standout star.
Why is Saka struggling so much?
As successful as Arsenal's more pragmatic, physical approach has been this season, the numbers suggest that it's been to the detriment of Saka.
The England international produced his best work for Arsenal when he acted as their main talisman. Arteta's attack was built around him and built to feed Arsenal's best player. Over the last two years, a new approach which could finally lead to title success has seen Saka bypassed far too often.
|Bukayo Saka PL Stats P90|
|Stat per 90|23/24|24/25|25/26|
|---|
|Touches|65.36|56.75|54.96|
|Touches in opposition box|8.81|9.39|7.49|
|Shots|3.31|3.48|2.78|
|Possession won in final third|1.14|1.19|1.08|
Compared to the 2023/24 campaign, when he scored nine goals and assisted another 16, Saka is now taking fewer touches across the pitch and, crucially, fewer touches in the opposition box. It's no wonder his impact has dwindled.
Even compared to last season, there has been a clear shift in Saka's role. He's no longer pressing with the same intensity, with his possession wins dropping in the final third, and taking almost two fewer shots per 90.
Bukayo Saka goals and assists per season (timeless)
It's a bold sacrifice from Arteta, but it cannot be the long-term solution. His side's 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen is a prime example of what could go wrong if he's not getting his most influential attacker involved more often.
The question for Arsenal will be whether they change Saka's role or simply wait to welcome their long-term replacement for the winger in 2027.
Saka-Leverkusen Related
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Bukayo Saka is stuck in a poor run of form at Arsenal.
Arsenal may have signed another Saka
Those in North London rarely miss in the transfer market these days and Edwin Quintero is another young player to watch.
The 16-year-old is set to arrive at Arsenal in 2027, with the Gunners announcing back in December that he and twin brother, Holger, had agreed to join the club, moving from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle. They certainly know a thing or two about young players having produced the likes of Piero Hincapie and Moises Caicedo.
Quintero has already earned impressive praise from talent scout Jacek Kulig, who dubbed him a "10/10" talent alongside a certain Max Dowman, who Arsenal supporters have deemed a generational talent.
So, could he be the solution to Arsenal's Saka problem? It's early days yet, but Quintero has already shown signs of his quality at youth level for Ecuador - scoring three goals in eight games for the U17s.
Max-Dowman-Arsenal
Scouts have already gone as far as to claim that the young winger is an "elite dribbler" and has "explosive pace" - two aspects of Saka's game which have fallen away in the last six months.
The Gunners already benefited from an elite dribbler in Noni Madueke earlier this week. Against a stubborn Bayer Leverkusen side, it was his directness which earned the equalising penalty.
When set pieces fail to do the trick, the ability to take players on at pace is an invaluable asset and something that Quintero could add to Arteta's side in abundance in the years to come.
Said to be up there with Dowman, do not be surprised if the teenager arrives in a year's time and lights up English football immediately. He looks that good.
Bukayo-Saka-Arsenal-Leverkusen Related
Worse than Saka: Arteta must drop Arsenal star who made just 11 passes
Bukayo Saka endured one of his worst displays in an Arsenal shirt as they drew with Bayer Leverkusen.