Arsenal have had a busy summer in the transfer market, and Bukayo Saka should benefit from this.
The Gunners needed to strengthen significantly after a disappointing league campaign in 2024/25, finishing ten points behind Champions Liverpool.
They’ve successfully done so, adding six players to Mikel Arteta’s ranks and spending almost £200 million in the process.
Viktor Gyokeres has arrived for £63 million as the marquee addition, while the likes of Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi should substantially improve the Gunners’ squad.
Leon Osman thinks Bukayo Saka will win ‘Playmaker of the Year’
Bukayo Saka suffered a serious hamstring injury mid-way through last season, which stopped him from enjoying one of his most productive campaigns yet.
Despite missing over three months of action due to this setback, the winger finished the season with 12 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.
Next year, in a more settled team with more firepower around him, he could kick on further and ‘go supernova’.
Leon Osman believes this to be the case, tipping Saka to win ‘Playmaker of the Year’, the award for the most assists in the Premier League.
“Arsenal now have a striker who should operate inside the box,” the former Everton midfielder wrote for the Premier League website.
“That should add plenty of assists to Saka’s tally, which has already been impressive.”
Matt Holland echoed these sentiments, writing: “He got double figures for assists last season in an injury-ravaged campaign so I expect that number to increase next season.
“Add in the fact Arsenal have brought in Gyokeres – that should mean more of the chances Saka creates should be converted, adding to his tally.”
Viktor Gyokeres should get more out of Bukayo Saka
Both Osman and Holland expect Gyokeres to make the difference for Saka in terms of his assist output.
Arsenal signed Madueke from Chelsea for £52 million to try and ease the burden placed upon Saka.
While the new winger signing will provide the Hale End graduate with some respite, Gyokeres is undoubtedly the man who will extract more from the Arsenal talisman when he is on the pitch.
Gyokeres boasts elite movement in and around the box, and Saka will thrive when he has someone of this calibre to look for in dangerous areas.
The Swede will get on the end of things Kai Havertz wasn’t able to, and thus, it’s reasonable to expect Saka’s creative numbers to improve even more.
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