Martin Keown has criticised Bukayo Saka’s performance for Arsenal against FC Porto, with the winger looking sloppy on the night.
It was a day to forget for the Gunners as the north London side saw their sensational winning streak come to an end at the hands of Porto, who scored a 94th-minute winner to win 1-0 on the night.
Whilst Arsenal do have the second leg at the Emirates Stadium to come, Mikel Arteta’s side have a mountain to climb if they’re to progress to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 14 years.
Bukayo Saka criticised by Arsenal legend after FC Porto loss
And speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arsenal legend Keown was critical of how Saka performed on the night, with the attacker far from his best.
Indeed, many of Arsenal’s top players simply didn’t turn up, with Porto executing their game plan to a tee as the Portuguese giants defended the game well and limited the north London side to zero shots on target.
And for Keown, the pundit noted that Saka did not look like himself last night, with the England international enduring one of his worst performances of the season.
Keown said when asked about the 22-year-old’s display against Porto: “Saka wasn’t really himself tonight. Saka giving the ball away, it’s just not him.”
Bukayo Saka burnout could be about to set in again vs Newcastle United
Arsenal can’t get too hung up on last night’s loss against Porto, with the Gunners still in an okay position to qualify to the final eight if they can turn up the flare in the second leg next month.
For now, though, attentions must turn to Saturday night against Newcastle United, and for fans, they will be hoping that Saka is again not suffering from burnout.
We have already seen this season what happens when the winger is exhausted, and for Saka, he will want to prove that last night was just a dip, with Newcastle an ideal opponent to regain form.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
