Arsenal have been told to replace Bukayo Saka after the England winger's form has been put under the microscope while a signing is being 'worked on'
07:50, 13 Mar 2026
TOPSHOT - Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on March 4, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
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Bukayo Saka's form has been questioned(Image: GLYN KIRK, AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Premier League title pursuit continues when they welcome Everton on Saturday. Following their escape with a draw from their Champions League first leg visit to Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners remain in the hunt to secure an unprecedented quadruple.
Arsenal, who finished top of the league phase following eight victories from eight matches, required a controversial last-gasp penalty from Kai Havertz against his former club to rescue a 1-1 draw. Mikel Arteta will expect an improved performance against the Toffees and in the second leg. The head coach said: "The level of execution obviously has to be better."
However, it won't be straightforward against an Everton side pursuing European football under David Moyes. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at the latest Arsenal news ahead of the weekend's fixture.
Saka replacement
Noni Madueke (FC Arsenal) looks on during Round of 16 UEFA Champions League: Bayer Leverkusen and FC Arsenal at BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany on March 11 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Noni Madueke has been called to start ahead of Saka(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka requires dropping from Arsenal's starting eleven, according to former Premier League striker Charlie Austin. The winger's disappointing recent form persisted against Leverkusen, where he failed to make an impression before being substituted by Noni Madueke on the hour mark.
Madueke delivered a lively performance and earned the late penalty that was converted by Havertz. Austin believes the former Chelsea wide man merits replacing Saka from the start.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "When he's come on, the performances he's been putting in warrant starting. But the issue he has is the fact Arsenal's Starboy plays in the same position as him. It's going to take the manager to make a brave decision to make that change.
"If I'm Noni Madueke, I'm asking that question, 'What more can I do?' Because when he came on, he changed the game in Arsenal's favour. He got on the ball, ran at defenders and made things happen. In the time Saka was on the pitch, he didn't."
'Working on deal'
Augsburg's Croatian midfielder #17 Kristijan Jakic (L) and Leipzig's French defender #23 Castello Lukeba vie for the ball during the Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and Augsburg in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on March 7, 2026. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP via Getty Images) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO
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Castello Lukeba is a target for Arsenal(Image: RONNY HARTMANN, AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal have reportedly intensified their pursuit of RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba. The Gunners are believed to have monitored the Frenchman during recent Bundesliga matches and have witnessed enough to start investigating a summer move.
French publication L'Equipe claims that Arsenal are 'working' on securing Lukeba's signature and have initiated talks, though it remains uncertain whether these discussions involve the club directly or the player's representative.
The 23-year-old appears set to leave Germany this summer, with the Premier League or La Liga being his preferred destinations. Previous reports suggested Lukeba possessed a release clause worth approximately £78m, a substantial sum for a defender who would find it challenging to displace William Saliba or Gabriel Magalhaes in the centre of defence, at least initially.
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Nevertheless, it's now claimed that Leipzig would accept a fee ranging between £50m and £60m. Lukeba has been plying his trade in Germany since his switch from Lyon in 2023.