As Arsenal prepare for the final phase of what could be a historic campaign, the story could come full circle for their number seven— who has come through one of the most difficult years in his career.
Bukayo Saka suffered a Grade 3 hamstring tear against Crystal Palace in December 2024, and he sat on the bench in a 2-1 win for the Gunners against Fulham just over twelve months ago. The reaction to his return revealed how much faith the fans have invested in his ability, and he delivered within minutes of appearing as a substitute scoring from close range to put the hosts into a two-goal lead.
But the best of Bukayo has not been a consistent sight for supporters at the Emirates Stadium since that cameo. Who is to blame? And can he bring the best out of himself when the team need it most?
Reinventing relationships
The story of Saka’s season can be framed through the changes in the right sided unit of Arsenal.
In a world where Saka stood head and shoulders above all other attackers at the club, he was also platformed through strong chemistry with two teammates: Ben White and Martin Odegaard.
White was a willing overlapping presence, whose experience at centre back brought ball distribution skills to release the deep runs of his teammate. Odegaard operated as a high-touch orchestrator, who could connect in small spaces with the winger and pin down passing networks over on the right side.
The previous campaign witnessed major absences for all three players. White underwent surgery for an ongoing knee problem in November, and a two-month layoff with an ankle issue was a precursor for the problems that the club captain has endured with his health. Arsenal needed other solutions.
Saka’s support on the right wing is Jurrien Timber, who often moves infield in possession. Odegaard is on the field less, Eze looks worse when he is tethered down to the right, and Kai Havertz has been a better facilitator than Gyokeres. Everything feels a lot less instinctual around the attacker right now.
However, Arteta’s trust has not wavered in the winger. Against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round, the Gunners ran riot to go four goals ahead in half an hour. The manager decided to deploy a new midfield, shifting Saka into a roaming role as a right sided 10. Days later, a goal followed from the same position against Wolves, and the experiment enabled Arteta to show Saka in a different light.
“He's more central, closer to the goal. It's a bit more difficult for the opponent to get his reference constantly. He can interchange positions with a wide player: he’s so good at picking those spaces.”
Saka is still a pivotal part of the plans, but his role has already somewhat shifted within this squad.
A shifting support cast
In his spell on the sidelines, Saka was absent from 21 fixtures for Arsenal and England. Especially at club level, his presence was missed: Ethan Nwaneri could only partially replicate the quality that comes from the right wing as the Gunners crashed out of both domestic cups and slipped too far adrift in the Premier League title race. The reliance on their talismanic attacker had grown too great.
The offseason demanded that the board bring in reinforcements to relieve pressure from Saka. Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze were deemed more decisive options for the attack while Noni Madueke represented the first senior option that could clearly back up Saka since he displaced Nicolas Pepe.
Squad strength has been a story of the season’s success so far for the Gunners, and the attack is no exception. Leandro Trossard took up the mantle on a reinvigorated left flank in the first half of the season while Gabriel Martinelli has stood out as a super sub. Gyokeres and Eze have produced more output during the new year, while Madueke has often made an impression in the absence of Saka.
The talent from Hale End expands the options around Saka. The new chip off the block is Max Dowman, now the youngest scorer in Premier League history, and his wizardry will be hard to contain to the dugout— even at the age of 16. Meanwhile, Marseille loanee Nwaneri still showed in flashes that he can deputise in important attacking positions before he moved to Ligue 1 in January.
No one individual has truly transcended in the attack, so Saka is still seen as the man who should make the difference. But Arsenal appear to be in a process of evolution, and it is no bad thing if all hopes and dreams are not attached to the winger so long as others are able to pick up the slack.
Saka shoulders personal responsibility
There is also a feeling that Saka is not at his physical best. Released with Declan Rice from England duty, Thomas Tuchel did not want to burden the attacker with more unneeded physical fatigue.
Regardless, few will turn a blind eye to poor form from Saka even if the Gunners get their hands on silverware. This is an individual who has become the ‘franchise player’ for Arsenal after agreeing a new long-term contract with his boyhood club as the most expensively paid member of the roster.
With great power comes great responsibility, and as the club committed to a future with Saka, there are heightened expectations for the player to provide the moments that make the side successful.
Saka started the month of March with a lucky strike to settle the score against Brighton on his 300th appearance. Following weeks were less impressive: he could not win his 1 v 1 battles against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg, and the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City passed him by.
Yet to hit double digits for goals and assists across all competitions this campaign, it feels like Saka has been a little short of the ruthless streak that developed in his game between 2022 and 2024.
At the same time, statistics should not detract from the contributions he continues to deliver.
He and Rice remain a strong supply of set-piece deliveries in a phase of the game that gives the Gunners an edge on their opponents across the board. Teammates trust Saka to make things happen in the final third, and his solid technical floor is a foundation for the side to settle in opposition territory.
Displays like his second half showing against Fulham in October often go underappreciated without the numbers to match. We are so accustomed to his consistency that all the little things lose their glow.
Saka should see this as an opportunity and an obstacle to hurdle. The next two months can sprinkle stardust on his six-year stint as a starter and an architect of their resurgence. The boy has become a man, and the stage is set for Saka to remind everyone he has earned pride of place at Arsenal.