Many Arsenal fans believe Gareth Southgate gets more out of Bukayo Saka than Mikel Arteta does.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka made an impact for England against Malta on Friday evening, as he provided the assist for Harry Kane’s second half strike.
In what was an otherwise underwhelming display from the Three Lions, Saka’s introduction from the bench at half-time helped to spark Gareth Southgate’s side into life.
For one so young, Saka has a remarkable record at international level. The 22-year-old Hale End academy graduate now has 31 caps to his name and has scored eleven goals and racked up eight assists. He also played a key role in helping England reach the final of EURO 2020.
Saka has twice been named England Men’s Player of the Year, in 2021/22 and 2022/23, and assuming he is fully fit, will certainly be an important figure once again throughout the upcoming EURO 2024 campaign.
The attacker is even more influential at club level. Saka is a talismanic figure at the Emirates Stadium, and has already made 196 first team appearances for the north London outfit, scoring 44 goals and providing 48 assists. Saka recently reached a Premier League milestone only previously achieved by Kane.
Saka has started the new season brightly, too, and already has six goals and eight assists, across all competitions, to his name.
Arsenal fans want Mikel Arteta to unshackle Bukayo Saka
However, plenty of Arsenal fans believe that Mikel Arteta could be getting more out of Saka. They certainly think that Southgate knows how best to use the youngster.
Taking to Twitter, one fan said, “Southgate is one of the worst managers in the world but he actually uses Saka in the correct way,” and, “Southgate uses him better than Arteta.”
Another supporter stated, “Southgate doesn’t get many things right but the man knows how to use Saka criminal that Mikel makes his hug the touchline every week.” Another chipped in with, “love the way Southgate uses Saka in that wingfielder kinda role, that’s his future.”
Arteta does indeed instruct Saka to provide width for the team by sticking close to the touchline. With Gabriel Martinelli often fulfilling a similar function on the opposite flank, Arsenal are able to stretch opposition defences, creating gaps to be exploited.
Whilst this does help the team, it arguably limits the direct impact Saka can have, as he is capable of providing a real threat when given license to drift into more central areas. He is given more options to link up with when operating in a role that gives him a greater degree of freedom.
Southgate recognises this and allows the Arsenal man to roam to a greater extent. However, it is hard to be too critical of Arteta’s handling of Saka, given all the player has achieved under the Spanish coach’s watch.
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