England topped Group L unbeaten, finishing with seven points from a possible nine after a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday night.
Bukayo Saka provided the assist for Jude Bellingham’s opener, before Bellingham turned provider himself to set up Harry Kane’s header.
It was Saka’s first start of the tournament, and a positive sign for Arsenal fans given how much the club have leaned on him in recent seasons.
But it has not been a straightforward summer for him so far.
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Kyle Walker calls on Bukayo Saka to take games ‘by the scruff of the neck’
Speaking to The Sun, Kyle Walker said England can’t keep relying purely on Bellingham and Kane, and pointed to Saka as the man who needs to step up.
“I think Bukayo’s coming into it. That’s his first proper minutes from the start and getting up to the rhythm of the game,” he said.
“Listen, [Saka] is an incredible player. I think what he’s shown at Arsenal, especially last season, and in a number of seasons previous to that, bar the injuries, he’s been nothing short of brilliant.
“He’s one of the more senior members of that team now and he needs to take the games by the scruff of the neck like Jude does, like Harry does. But we can’t just lean on certain players like that. I think everyone needs to chip in.”
Saka had come off the bench in the games against Croatia and Ghana before starting against Panama.
His assist for Bellingham added to the one he provided for Marcus Rashford against Croatia, and Walker believes he is starting to find his rhythm.
Arsenal saw exactly this version of Bukayo Saka for stretches last season too
Noni Madueke filled in during Saka’s absence from the starting side and has recently explained how the pair differ as wingers.
Saka is still Arsenal’s most important attacker, and his sharpness, or lack of it, has been one of the bigger talking points of England’s group stage campaign.
Ian Wright and Gary Neville both flagged concerns over how off the pace Saka has looked in recent months, with Neville saying he “doesn’t look right at all” and Wright questioning whether his confidence to beat players has dipped.
Roy Keane raised similar points, and has noticed a drop in sharpness and decision-making.
England managed little from open play without Saka fully firing during the group stage, and Arsenal experienced something similar at points last season whenever he was missing or below his best.
If Saka can get firing it would obviously be a massive boost for England’s chances at the World Cup and, of course, for Mikel Arteta’s title defence heading into next season.
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