Bukayo Saka is the face of Arsenal’s attack and the player around whom much of the club’s future is built. He has the rare mix of technical quality, tactical intelligence and mental resilience that turns good teams into title contenders. In the 2024/25 season, he produced moments of real brilliance, carried the side through periods of pressure and reminded everyone why he is considered one of the most complete young forwards in world football. His influence extends beyond goals and assists. He shapes how Arsenal approach every game.
Saka’s 2024/25 season was defined by high impact and a significant injury layoff. He featured in 25 Premier League matches and registered six goals and ten assists in the division. He missed roughly three months with a hamstring problem but returned at the crucial stage of the season and immediately made the difference. Before the injury, he was in electric form, providing an assist in each of Arsenal’s first five league games and producing sustained attacking threat week after week. Those early performances set the tone for the campaign and underlined how central he had become to the team.
When he was available, he regularly changed games. He completed more dribbles than anyone at the club and created more big chances than anyone in the league. His touches in the opposition box and his ability to win the ball high up the field gave **Arsenal**a consistent source of danger. In key European ties and in decisive league fixtures, he turned up with clutch moments. A late winner at Fulham after his return and a composed finishing display at the Bernabéu in the Champions League are two examples of how he stepped up when it mattered most.
The injury pause did have a visible impact on Arsenal. Their attacking numbers dipped without him and the team missed his creativity and tempo. His return restored a rhythm that had been missing and reminded the squad how much they rely on his movement and decision-making. Over the whole season, his end product and his influence on the game were clear. He is not just a goalscorer or a creator. He is the engine that keeps Arsenal’s right flank moving and the player who forces opponents to alter their defensive plans.
Tactical Fit
Saka fits Mikel Arteta’s system perfectly because his skill set matches the tactical demands of a more modern, fluid Arsenal attack. He starts wide, but he rarely stays there. He drifts inside to create overloads, he times his forward runs to arrive in the box and he knows when to hold width to stretch defences. That positional flexibility gives Arsenal multiple ways to break teams down.
A big part of his impact comes from the relationships around him. Jurrien Timber’s and Ben White's overlapping runs and Martin Ødegaard’s interplay create the patterns that allow Saka to exploit half spaces. The right side triangle of Timber, Ødegaard and Saka has become a recurring attacking blueprint. Saka’s passing and finishing are both strong enough to make these patterns pay off. He can cross accurately, he can play a simple killer pass into the box, and he can create chances out of tight areas.
Defensively he contributes as well. His pressing starts from the front and it often forces opponents into rushed decisions. He tracks back to support the right back and helps cut out counterattacks before they develop. That willingness to defend as a collective unit adds balance to his game. It also means Arteta can trust him in high-intensity matches where defensive discipline matters as much as attacking invention.
Set pieces are another dimension. Saka’s delivery has improved and he is a regular taker for corners and indirect set plays. That added responsibility has increased his overall value to the team and given Arsenal another reliable source of goal-creating quality.
Future Importance
Looking ahead, Saka’s role at Arsenal seems secure but also strategically complex. He is only 23 and already a cornerstone of the squad. That means the club will plan around him in recruitment, tactical development and long-term identity. The addition of Viktor Gyökeres this summer gives Arsenal a new central striker who can benefit directly from Saka’s service. Gyökeres offers a different forward profile to what Arsenal have had recently and Saka’s movement and crossing can help unlock his strengths. The signing reduces the question of whether Arsenal still need to add a top forward to complement their wide creators.
From a development angle Saka still has room to grow. He can become more clinical in front of goal, he can vary his runs to become less predictable and he can continue to add physical resilience so that injuries are less likely to interrupt his momentum. There is also leadership potential. He is already a figure teammates look to in big games, and as he adds more experience, his voice on the pitch will naturally grow.
There is of course commercial and financial reality attached to a player of his profile. He is one of the club’s most valuable assets and that means transfer offers will always be a possibility. Arsenal’s clear preference is to build around him rather than sell him, but football is fluid. If an extraordinary offer landed, the club would only consider it from a position of tactical clarity and with a plan to replace the creativity and identity he brings. At present, the board and the coaching staff have shown they align with keeping him as a central figure.
His importance is not only short-term. He represents Arsenal’s identity as a club that can develop its own stars and make them central to a long-term project. He is the link between the academy and success at the highest level. For youngsters coming through the Hale End system he is proof that the pathway works.
Final Word
Bukayo Saka is the player Arsenal build their attack around. His movement, technical quality and decision-making give the team a consistent threat and define how opponents must prepare. He can win games with moments of individual brilliance and he can influence matches through smart positional play. The addition of a striker like Viktor Gyökeres increases how Saka can contribute. As long as he remains at the club he will shape Arsenal’s tactical identity and their prospects for silverware.
Importance to Arsenal’s Future Goals: 9 out of 10.