Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has been ranked as the Premier League’s most impressive performer in 2023.
Bukayo Saka is a talismanic figure at Arsenal. He is the north London club’s most productive attacker, and has already racked up 9 goals and 12 assists in 26 appearances, across all competitions, so far this season.
The Hale End academy graduate was in fine form last season, too. The 22-year-old contributed 15 goals and 11 assists over the course of the 2022/23 campaign.
Mikel Arteta is hugely reliant upon Saka. The 32-cap England star is a nailed-on starter for the club and is both a creative hub within the team and a goalscorer.
Of course, this has led to opposition defences singling Saka out for extra attention. The winger has spoken out publicly about the extra challenge that his has presented to him this season. There are also concerns that opposition defences have started to work out how to stop Saka, whose inclination is to cut inside from the right flank onto his stronger right foot. Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara recently encouraged the Arsenal man to develop his game and become less predictable.
Arsenal gem Bukayo Saka leads the way in the Premier League
According to WhoScored’s rankings though, Saka’s own style of play, as it currently exists, has certainly worked well enough throughout 2023. As per their ratings, he was the highest ranked Premier League player in 2023, receiving an average match rating of 7.44, putting him ahead of the likes of Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who all also made the best Premier League XI of 2023.
Over the course of the calendar year just gone, in English top flight matches, Saka scored 14 goals, laid on 11 assists, played 91 key passes and completed 72 successful dribbles.
If Arsenal are to stand any chance of being crowned Premier League champions at the end of the season, they need Saka to maintain this extraordinarily and consistently high level into 2024.
Gareth Southgate will also be keen to see Saka continue to shine, as the Arsenal ace is likely to play a key role for the Three Lions at this summer’s EURO 2024 tournament.
It is worth noting, though, that even Saka needs support. The likes of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have been underperforming in terms of providing end product so far this season, and need to raise their levels in the second half of the campaign.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
