Arsenal fans may be surprised to hear that Bukayo Saka is the player who’s completed the most successful tackles at the club this year.
That’s a stat via FBref which puts Saka in tenth spot in the Premier League.
Saka has completed 12 tackles in four games so far this season.
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Arsenal’s second highest player is Declan Rice (10) and third is Martin Odegaard (9).
And that might be a statistic that does surprise a few.
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Although all Arsenal fans will testify that Saka works extremely hard for the team, it is a surprise that he tops the charts.
And that is probably a strong testament to how well Arsenal are pressing this season.
Had Gabriel Jesus not suffered an unfortunate knee injury at the start of the season fans may have expected to see him up there too.
Pressing from the front is such an important part of the strategy under Mikel Arteta.
And the manager will surely be so pleased that Saka is leading the way with his tackles at Arsenal.
Saka has completed more tackles than anyone at Arsenal this season
Mikel Arteta will probably be relieved to see Saka get a rest on England duty on Tuesday.
It’s rare to see the 22-year-old on the bench in any game at this stage of his career.
The decision is probably a sensible one too with reports that Saka is carrying a slight Achilles issue.
It doesn’t seem too much for Arsenal fans to worry about right now but it is likely to be carefully managed.
Neither Arteta nor Arsenal fans will want to see ‘relentless’ Saka slowing down with his tackles any time soon.
Arsenal of course face a tricky trip to Goodison Park on Sunday to face Sean Dyche’s Everton.
And at a ground were Arsenal’s title hopes began to unravel last season, it will be important for Arteta to enact revenge.