Arsenal ensured they will take an advantage into the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, but Jamie Redknapp spotted a problem.
Mikel Arteta’s unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge extended as his Arsenal squad beat Chelsea 3-2 in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
The Gunners are now 90 minutes away from Wembley to battle for the first piece of silverware available in 2026, but the tie is far from over.
Arsenal had multiple chances to score more than three goals against Chelsea, but weren’t able to, and Redknapp thinks he knows one reason why Arteta’s side aren’t scoring as much as they could be.
Tell us who deserves the Man of the Match award vs Chelsea 👀
Some big performances 💪
Jamie Redknapp thinks Bukayo Saka is a problem for Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres finally got himself back on the scoresheet, scoring Arsenal’s second in what was a very positive match for the Swede.
Though the striker’s movement was clearly improved, Gyokeres was left fuming with Bukayo Saka just before he scored, as the winger hesitated to play the ball into the box.
Seconds later, Ben White overlapped and delivered the goods for Gyokeres, but Redknapp couldn’t help but focus on the Saka incident moments prior.
“When he [Gyokeres] plays for Arsenal, the major problem is Saka plays on the right, he’s left-footed,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports.
The pundit pinned some of the responsibility of Gyokeres’ underperformance on Saka, who is one of Arsenal’s wingers who prefer to play to score themselves.
Be honest. Do you think Bukayo Saka is the reason why Viktor Gyokeres has been struggling at Arsenal?
Watch how frustrated Gyokeres was!👀
Redknapp made it clear that Gabriel Martinelli is the same, with the issue being a tactical one.
“Martinelli, the same. He wants to cut back on his right foot.
“So when Bukayo Saka gets into that position to start with, instead of firing it across the face, he wants to chop back. So that’s where the frustration comes.”
Redknapp’s concerns were valid, as the problem with having wingers who play on the opposing wing to their strong foot is that more times than not, cutting in is the best route.
Fortunately, there is a solution, as we saw at the Bridge, as White showed signs of forming a partnership with Gyokeres, firing the ball in from the right on his strong foot.
Arsenal’s long-term solution for Gyokeres and Saka is so clear
The solution might well be a short-term one, as White is not Arteta’s favoured right-back, Jurrien Timber is.
The good news is that Arteta isn’t out of luck, as long-term, it might be that Saka shifts over to the left.
Prove me wrong: The future of Arsenal is Noni Madueke on the right and Bukayo Saka on the left.
It seems like a bizarre idea, as Saka is one of Arsenal’s best players, but that’s the point: he can do it all, wherever he plays.
So, who replaces Saka on the right? Noni Madueke.
Madueke is a left-footed winger too, but his playing style is different to Saka’s in that he relishes taking his marker to the byline before putting the ball in the box.
The tweak could make a huge difference for Gyokeres, but will Arteta see it that way?
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