An assist, a pre-assist and a goal. These were Saka’s ‘hard-measure’ contributions to our win on Saturday. If Saka gets space to roam and he is at his best, he is simply unstoppable. Teams know that he is our main threat; if you stop Bukayo you stop Arsenal to a large extend. They double up on him, foul him, deny him any space, and even Saka sometimes doesn’t know how to deal with it.
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The question is how can Bukayo be freed to do what he does best to devastating effect? Our attacking options were limited last season mainly because of injuries. But things are different now after the recovery of injured players and some fine transfer business over the summer. Arsenal are in a much better place to make our attack, and Bukayo in particular, much more lethal.
Options:
1. With Odegaard and White fit again, the golden triangle is back. Timber is another way to make the triangle approach work really well. So maybe all is fine again and nothing else needs doing.
2. Get the ball quicker to Bukayo when he is free. Last season, it often amazed me how regularly Liverpool’s Salah would be receiving the ball in acres of space on the right. Surely opposition teams knew how dangerous he was?! The difference was that Pool worked the ball quicker to the Egyptian and from further away than Arsenal did to our star boy. Just that extra second and bit of extra space can make all the difference. There were a few moments in the game on Saturday when I thought Arsenal players were trying to find Bukayo in space sooner and more effectively than in previous seasons.
3. Play Saka behind the CF (LeGall’s option). This is quite an exciting option. Free Bukayo from the overcrowded flank and allow him lots of space to strutt his stuff in a nr10-like position.
4. Strengthen the left flank and make it as dangerous as our right flank, whilst also strengthening the distribution and threat through the middle. Arsenal were too lob-sided at best of their times last season. Martin works his magic best on the right with Bukayo and Ben, but this made us predictable, and teams could concentrate on that area of the pitch, thus eliminating or undermining most of our attacking potency. Now, with Zubimendi, Madueke and Gyokeres in the team, Arsenal are much more able to attack from all three areas, and it looks like Arteta may strengthen the left wing further with one more signing. This will help Saka a lot as opposition teams will be pulled apart in defence much more than in previous seasons, and space and time for Bukayo makes a world of difference.
I believe that Saka is our starman and he is now of an age for Arsenal to really, really free him up and allow him to be as effective as possible. Salah won Pool the League last season, Bukayo can do something similar this season. Let’s free up Saka the Beast.
By TotalArsenal.