Bukayo Saka could be in line for a new role in Arsenal’s game against Sunderland on Saturday evening.
The Gunners visit the Stadium of Light in the Premier League, looking to consolidate their position at the top of the table before Manchester City entertain Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Fans weren’t delighted with Saka’s performance against Slavia Prague in midweek, despite the winger dispatching neatly from the spot to open the scoring.
The Arsenal faithful felt that their talisman wasn’t close to his best in the Czech Republic, but Mikel Arteta may be devising a potential solution to this slight dip in form.
Bukayo Saka could be used off the left against Sunderland
Max Dowman became the youngest player in Champions League history when he replaced Leandro Trossard in the 73rd minute of Arsenal’s game in Prague.
Aside from the seismic moment for Dowman, this substitution was also significant because Trossard was withdrawn instead of Saka.
Saka would’ve naturally been the man to make way, given he, like the 15-year-old, is a right-sided player. However, Arteta instead opted to move the England international to the left and hook the Belgian.
While Saka has played off the left in the past, he’s been a nailed-on right forward for several seasons now.
It’s possible that this decision was Arteta foreshadowing what might happen on Sunday against Sunderland. The Gunners won’t have either Gabriel Martinelli or Noni Madueke available against the Black Cats due to injury, both of whom can operate off the left.
Thus, Trossard is the only natural left-sided attacking player at Arteta’s disposal at the moment, and the former Brighton man has played a lot of football recently.
At the age of 30, it’s possible that he’s not able to play a third game in the space of six days and needs to be rested on Tyneside.
This would make Saka the prime candidate to start off the left, given Arteta has other right-sided options available to him in Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.
Why Bukayo Saka could be frightening off the left for Arsenal
In Saka’s first two seasons in the Arsenal first team, he was deployed as either a left-back or a left winger.
Arteta unlocked one of the most devastating right wingers in the world when he moved the Hale End graduate over to the other side, but he has been toying with the idea of moving him back throughout this season.
Saka has evidently been given more licence to roam over to the left-hand side and this has led to some dangerous moments, including his goal against Olympiacos in October.
| Bukayo Saka’s Premier League Statistics 2020/21 | |
| Appearances | 32 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Shots per 90 | 2.15 |
| Expected Goals per 90 | 0.24 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 1.34 |
| Expected Assists per 90 | 0.18 |
| Successful Take-ons per 90 | 1.62 |
The table above shows Saka’s numbers from the 2020/21 season, where he was used as a left-winger for large portions of the campaign.
Clearly still a threat from this side, there are reasons why this position change could actually elicit more from him. Saka’s ball-striking on the left-hand side is much more powerful and accurate than it is when he has to try and finesse the ball on his left from the right flank.
Not only does this mean he’s able to generate more powerful shots, he’s also exquisite at delivering pinpoint crosses from this side.
This move could simplify his game and lead to an even greater increase in his output.
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