Ray Parlour tells Mikel Arteta to make Bukayo Saka decision at Arsenal after Max Dowman’s emergence

Add as preferred source on Google

Ray Parlour believes that Mikel Arteta should continue to start Bukayo Saka for Arsenal despite Max Dowman’s recent emergence.

Dowman was phenomenal against Southampton; however, the Arsenal legend believes that the club should not put too much pressure on him.

👀 Bukayo Saka or Max Dowman: Who is Arsenal’s best right winger?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Meanwhile, Saka’s recent performances have been questioned, and with Dowman stepping up, the teenager could soon replace him.

Parlour has now been asked whether Dowman should be starting games for the Gunners, and he now thinks that would be wrong.

Ray Parlour urges Mikel Arteta to keep Bukayo Saka ahead of Max Dowman

Ray Parlour has urged Mikel Arteta to keep Bukayo Saka ahead of Max Dowman despite the young Arsenal star really impressing.

However, Parlour thinks that it would be too much pressure to place on the 16-year-old and is backing Saka to keep his place.

Asked whether Dowman should start Saka, Parlour told TalkSPORT: “No, because you don’t want to, you don’t want to give him too much responsibility at 16 years old. We’ve all been there.

“It’s amazing. You know, the only thing we could be celebrating is his GCSE results. You don’t want to be putting too much pressure on him as a youngster.

“Look, he is at the moment he comes on. He’s been playing in the FA Cup. He’s brilliant the other night. I mean, he’s his balance he’s got when he goes past players both feet, and he’s only 16. He’s just turned 16 in December.”

Arsenal should start Max Dowman against Sporting CP

Saka is sidelined for the Sporting CP clash, which means that Dowman could actually be given a start in the Champions League.

But with Noni Madueke available after recovering from his knee injury, it is most likely that the former Chelsea man will start instead.

Dowman was Arsenal’s best player against Southampton and showed up Madueke, who offered very little at St Mary’s.

Over the final few weeks of the season, Dowman has been tipped to be the difference maker for Arsenal, and Arteta must recognise that against Sporting by starting him.