Thomas Tuchel is wrong about Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka’s goal-scoring record.
Saka netted a stunning strike for England against Wales on Thursday evening at Wembley, beautifully bending the ball beyond Karl Darlow after cutting inside from the right.
This was his fourth goal for club and country this season, while it also put him out in front as Arsenal’s record goalscorer for the Three Lions.
While the Gunners’ talisman continues to go from strength to strength, Tuchel demanded more from him moving forward after the clash with the Dragons.
Thomas Tuchel calls on Bukayo Saka to score more goals
Saka is Arsenal’s most important player and arguably among the most important for England.
The Gunners’ attack runs through him, while he consistently turns up for the Three Lions and performs to a high level.
This didn’t stop Tuchel from bemoaning the 24-year-old’s goal-scoring record for his nation, with the German manager urging him to contribute more in the final third.
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of the clash with Wales, the tactician claimed that Saka has to start scoring more.
“How many goals did he score for England? 13? One-three?” Tuchel asked.
“This has to be more. It’s not enough. He needs to keep on going. I thought it’s 30 at least! And then I would have said ‘well it’s not enough’ because I’m never, never satisfied.”
Thomas Tuchel is wrong about Bukayo Saka’s goal output
While Tuchel is probably trying to elicit more from Saka by spurring him on in the media, the idea that the player doesn’t score an acceptable volume of goals for club or country is simply inaccurate.
In the current England squad, only Harry Kane (74) and Marcus Rashford (18) have netted more for their country.
Kane is the greatest goal-scorer in the England national team’s history, although he has managed 64 more caps than Saka, while Rashford has only scored five more goals than the Arsenal man, despite making 20 appearances more.
When comparing Saka’s tally to other attacking midfielders and wingers in England’s squad, it’s clear that his return is actually very impressive.
Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, and Morgan Rogers have four goals between them from a combined 55 caps. Saka has 45 caps and 13 goals.
Phil Foden, who was omitted from the current squad, has four goals in 45 caps.
At club level, Saka could certainly go to another level from a goal-scoring standpoint. That said, according to FBRef, he’s still in the 93rd percentile for goals per 90 minutes.
In other words, he’s in the top seven percent for this metric across Europe’s top five leagues, compared to other wingers and attacking midfielders.
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