Theo Walcott’s claim about Bukayo Saka after Everton has now revealed one major Arsenal issue

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Former Arsenal and Everton winger Theo Walcott has given his verdict after the two sides played out a 0-0 draw on Saturday. 

Arsenal dominated possession and territory against Everton at the Emirates Stadium, but could not find a way through against Sean Dyche’s side.

Mikel Arteta is convinced that Arsenal deserved to win the game, but the truth is that the Toffees executed their gameplan well.

Stopping Bukayo Saka was obviously at the heart of the Toffees’ tactics for this match, and the manner in which they did exactly that ought to be worrying for the Gunners.

• READ MORE: Everything to know on Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka from his age, parents and house

Theo Walcott highlights Bukayo Saka battle vs Everton

Saka is often doubled up on by opponents, and Everton stuck to this method on Saturday, as full-back Vitalii Mykolenko and winger Iliman Ndiaye worked hard to suffocate the England international throughout of the match.

Speaking on the BBC’s Match of the Day, Theo Walcott analysed the game and highlighted how Everton had a rotation of players coming out to limit the space available to Saka.

Walcott said: “I liked the fact that they were sharing the jobs at times. If Ndiaye wasn’t there, Doucoure would help him out, and if Doucoure wasn’t there Gueye would just come out… Ndiaye, he actually started to enjoy defending, which is a bit of rarity on the winger’s side, but he won the battle with Saka.”

Arsenal punished for reliance on Bukayo Saka

Despite the Hale End academy graduate being squeezed out of the game, Arsenal gave him the ball again and again and again. 

Not the for the first time, the Gunners’ approach play was extremely lopsided, favouring the right flank, where the connection between Saka and Martin Odegaard has often brought them joy in the past.

Meanwhile, the North Londoners remained ineffective on the opposite wing. Arsenal fans slammed Gabriel Martinelli for his display in this game, and Mikel Merino struggled to make an impact too, as did Leandro Trossard when he was called upon from the bench.

Opponents know that Arsenal’s strength is on their right, and they can afford to push additional numbers into that part of the pitch, as the threat posed from the Gunners’ left flank isn’t potent enough to strike fear into opposition defences.

This imbalance has made Arteta’s side far too predictable, and is seeing Saka having to surmount increasingly difficult odds in order to impact the game. Until Arteta can make Arsenal’s left a real weapon again, opposition defences will repeat Everton’s tactic.