Bukayo Saka has the full support of Mikel Arteta amid his peculiar goal drought at Arsenal.
It seems strange to comment on the Arsenal winger’s goal drought, as aside from the ball not going in the net, Saka has been performing better than most.
Still, the fact remains that the England international hasn’t scored in the Premier League since the first week of December, which isn’t helped now that Arsenal’s attack is under the microscope.
Arsenal’s front line isn’t doing enough right now in the league, with pressure mounting on Saka to end his run without a goal, something Arteta has now commented on.
Finish the sentence: Arsenal’s attackers are struggling because _______________
Mikel Arteta had a simple response to Bukayo Saka’s goal drought
Thomas Tuchel wants Saka to score more goals for England, and now, it has to be wondered if Arteta is thinking the same thing at Arsenal.
The 24-year-old has only found the net four times in 21 Premier League appearances this season, a tally way below the numbers expected from a player of Saka’s world-class quality.
Fill the blanks, Bukayo Saka should be scoring __ goals a season at Arsenal.
So, what does Arteta really think?
In the Arsenal manager’s pre-match press conference ahead of the Gunners’ Champions League meeting with Kairat Almaty, Arteta was asked about Saka’s drought.
“Look at the last 200 games, for instance, it’s pretty simple,” the boss responded.
There’s clearly no panic or concern from those at Arsenal about Saka’s numbers this season, because as Arteta suggested, what he’s done over the years outweighs a nine-game run without a league goal.
People always forget one thing about Saka
For a winger of Saka’s calibre, nine games without a Premier League goal triggers an almost catastrophic response from the media.
To bluntly echo what Arteta said, it’s not all about the goals for Saka, and it never has been.
Be honest, how many ELITE forwards do Arsenal actually have?
It’s why the Arsenal academy graduate is so underrated, as, okay, 57 Premier League goals in 215 appearances isn’t mind-blowing, but it is when adding his 56 assists to the conversation.
Saka has 113 goal contributions in 216 Premier League appearances for Arsenal at the age of just 24.
That’s a figure that eclipses Phil Foden at Manchester City, for example.
So, to some extent, Arteta is right, as there’s no pressure on Saka to score when he’s playing well; however, from a fan’s point of view, there’d be no harm in seeing the winger wheel off in celebration soon.
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