While Arsenal have been largely imperious throughout the 2025/26 season, it has been clear that Bukayo Saka has not been as influential as many would have expected. That includes the man himself. The Hale End graduate has been in and out of the side throughout the season, with injuries threatening to derail his season.
However, Mikel Arteta’s star boy appears to be hitting form at just the right time. As the run-in arrived, his output has rose to the challenge. Goals against Fulham, Brighton, and Wolves as captain have shown that the young man is ready to cement his status as a key man for a Gunners side who ended the pain of being nearly men by becoming Premier League Champions 2025/26.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, it is perfect timing for another reason. When Saka performs, England performs. His blistering pace and ability to beat his man have been key to his national team in the last few tournaments – especially when they reached the Euro 2020 final. So, could a continuation of his form’s uptick help England to success and see him return even more talismanic to Arsenal than he already is?
England Will be Amongst the Favourites, and Saka Could Play a Big Part
As the Gunners claimed their first Premier League title since 2004, they finally sealed the deal and reclaimed their status as the best of the best. It parallels England’s own 60 years of hurt as perennial underachievers. The Three Lions have struggled in major competitions, and Saka has experienced that disappointment himself, falling at the final hurdle twice.
However, having now reached two finals in the last three tournaments, England are being seen as real contenders for competitions once again. They are third favourites in North America at 13/2 for World Cup fixtures, and it could be a summer in which many of the team’s stars claim major trophies. Saka will certainly look to be one of those.
Given that Harry Kane, with whom he has an extremely fruitful relationship when playing for his country, is in the form of his life, this could very well be the year that the hurt ends. Kane has already hit 100 goals for Bayern and is easily the most prolific goal scorer in Europe right now and a Ballon D’Or contender. He and Saka working in tandem would be a scary prospect for any national team, especially if the latter also comes into the tournament as a Premier League winner.
What Effect Would a World Cup Win Have on Arsenal’s Star Boy?
If England were to finally end the hurt, every single one of its stars would go down in history as legends. Bukayo Saka certainly would. While his form has been patchy, the confidence of returning as England and the world champion would give him the licence to attack at will, with Arteta taking a more pragmatic approach to get over the line in the Premier League.
A Saka playing with the freedom of success is a dangerous prospect. When he scored 16 goals in 2023-24, it was only an unstoppable Manchester City that prevented the Premier League from making its way to the Emirates. Imagine the 24-year-old coming back with the vigour to take the game to the opposition and drive defences back towards their goals.
It is not just his own form and confidence, either. A good run for England would provide a boost to stars like Declan Rice and even Noni Madueke. If Eberechi Eze can also make an impact on the national team this time around, the core of the team could be returning to North London with the spring in their steps that delivers back-to-back titles.
Winning the World Cup won’t be easy, and it will take more than a blistering run of form from Saka to deliver it, but it could be that a number of Arsenal’s stars write their names into legend for both club and country this summer.
