Is Saka back to his best?
Arsenal at the end of last year looked like they were beginning to get a little lost, with a few hard losses and our front line not linking up well, it began to become a concern for Arsenal fans as to why our attackers weren’t scoring many goals. But since the start of 2024 we’ve started to look great again and finally our attackers are picking up goals and plenty of them. Fan favourite Bukayo Saka looked to be on a downwards spiral but recently he’s been able to come into great form and have been showing his critics just how good he is.
Lately Saka looks back to his best and has been scoring goals for fun, scoring 7 goals and 1 assist in his last 7 games, showing just how good he really is. I’m not sure what’s lit the fire in his belly but whatever it is, it’s working.
Arsenal was really struggling to link up well and had been relying on the odd goal to help them win games but our attack looked horrible and weren’t being clinical enough when going forward, but since the January break and the warm weather training in Dubai, our attackers looked to have found their feet again and are beginning to produce multiple goals in every game.
Winning for the 5th game in a row in a league like the Premier League, is no easy thing and for some reason I think Saka has been able to step up and be a leader of the group after coming from the academy. He’s always been a great player, but it looks like he’s began to take a lot of responsibility and is taking the reins in the frontline, looking confident and consistent in every game he’s played this year and will be a major asset as we go forward in the season.
If Saka can continue this form, I think it puts us in a great position going forward and the way he’s been able to link up with Martinelli and Trossard has been great. Losing Gabriel Jesus was never going to be easy, but with Trossard and Saka linking up so well it hasn’t hit us as hard as I would have expected and have actually been scoring more without him then we were with him.
Yes, some might say he’s only been scoring against the “easier” sides but the consistency is what matters, and with him we look dangerous whenever he is on the ball. It must be hard being a 22-year-old at one of the biggest clubs in England, but he looks to have taken it in his stride and after the past few games is on a streak of goal involvements that are pushing this Arsenal squad forward and allowing us to play more freely when going forward.
What’s your thoughts Gooners? Have we got the best of Saka back?
Daisy Mae
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Everyone is playing better since the return from Dubai. Arteta has tweaked the tactics a bit, and it has really made a difference for some players and the team as a whole.
Kiwor has been solid at LB, so White has been inverting which has freed up Odegaard to shine, which in term has helped Saka.
Add Trossard and Havertz through the middle, and not only have they improved, but other teammates as well.
The individual and the collective just clicked in the team. yeah Same deserve a lot of praise but i think we are overlooking the work of others when we say he carries the team.
As good as he as been (and boy is on fire at the moment) he has not needed to dribble past 3 or 4 players to score.
He got the right pass and support from his team mate. Yeah, i respect our efficient Saka has become in front of goal.
But so is Odegaard passes and movement, Rice security and simplicity in the middle, Martineli trickery on the other side and Kai & Trossard movement has been a problem for the opposition.
Arteta has done so so well with this team.
Just imagine having Party, Timber, Jesus, Smith and Zinc back fit again. We are better equipped for the league this time and a good run in the champions League as well.
What is evident is that the players were tired.
Arteta has done well in the last 2 games taking off our key players when the game was done. I hope he continues to do this.
I was shocked a few games back when he gave ESR a rare start. This is all that is needed. 1 change occasionally to rest some key players.
Rice, Saliba, Saka, odegard are our main guys for me. If we go to Porto and win by 3 or more goals I say we don’t start them in the next game. Or atsleast rest 1 or 2
We’re flying because Saka and Odegaard are on form plus we’re more clinical infront of goal.. Thats all
I think everybody has improved, not just Saka. I wish to echo the comment from Durand about Kiwior looking good at LB. I really like Zinchenko and would have no issue with him deputising in the more advanced role, but his days at LB have to be over, he’s just too much of defensive liability.
Havertz is starting to get the recognition his hard work deserves, and if he can grab a few more goals and maybe reach double figures for the season it will do his confidence the world of good.
What I like most is the size of the team with Kiwior at LB and White stepping into midfield with Rice. That’s 5 solid 6 footers in there plus Havertz up front.
I haven’t always been the biggest fan of Trossard but he clearly adds something to the team that cannot be replicated. His positivity and technique are excellent and he is always looking to play a forward pass.
I like this lineup. It shouldn’t really work but it is, so I am hoping Arteta doesn’t tinker with it unless he is forced to. Jesus and Zinchenko cannot be allowed to just walk back into the team when we have been playing better without them.
If the team is not scoring goals, take them to Dubai. That said, Saka has certainly stepped up but there are other players who are as involved like Trossard, Odegaard, Martinelli and Rice and I would also include Havertz. After all, it is a team game and it requires a combined team effort from a number of players to create/score goals. Certainly Saka is the lead man and long may it continue. Arsenal is picking up momentum at the right time.