Bukayo Saka: From Starboy to Champion

[Batman]

Levels! True superstar type of play. This team is missing Henry, RVP, Sanchez type of player. If we had a forward with that quality, it'd be unfair for Europe in the next 5 years. That's if the rest of the team stays healthy lol.

And this is the disappointment of this window. We didn't even try to get closer to that than we are once Vini and Alvarez(who isn't of that level) said no. Of course, you're not always going to be able to get a player of that level but somewhere between that and what we have presently would have been nice.

 

[Geofranco]

And this is the disappointment of this window. We didn't even try to get closer to that than we are once Vini and Alvarez(who isn't of that level) said no. Of course, you're not always going to be able to get a player of that level but somewhere between that and what we have presently would have been nice.

It's been so frustrating. We could have won the UCL in 24/25 and 25/26 with that quality. Even won the league in 23/24. Hell, if Timber didn't get injured in preseason, we win it in 23/24. Havertz and Gyokeres are workhorses, they don't have the raw talent to be game changers on that level. Havertz a bit more talented, but he is not even a true CF.

 

[viktor]

 

[WesleyNHohfeld]

I don't remember the last goal Saka scored that was comparable to the goals he was regularly scoring in 2022-2023 (e.g., his stunner against United). You got the sense that every time he cut in on his left foot, he was a real threat to bend one into the bottom left corner of the goal. Part of that might be that he's marked so aggressively but, again, my eyes tell me he's slower and less explosive.

Don't get me wrong, he's still our best attacker and he gets goals and assists in a scrappy way, but I think we should be honest with ourselves that he isn't at the level of the PSG, Real Madrid, and Barcelona attackers and that's unfortunate because he would have been right up there with Yamal and Vinicius if he hadn't been hacked down every single game.

 

[Legend14]

He’s lost a step of quickness and pace. And last season he looked tentative on that hamstring.

This season he did the Henry slide, so he has confidence in the hamstring.

 

[Kysus]

No one else thinks this but you mate

Saka regularly has his full back on toast. Was a bit sloppy in the first half but then had Maatsen gasping for breath in the second half.

If he has lost pace, it's marginal.

It's not pace he has lost, it's agility and acceleration.

It's not an opinion either, just watch some clips from his peak and compare them to now. It's a different player ffs

 

[OnlyOne]

BS7 2 for 2, keep going king. 4 pints and a straight line baby

 

[sdotzdot]

I think overall we need to accept a permanent aging of his body and drop in quality.

Saka at his peak though, was one of the best wingers in world football. So even now he's still a fantastic player, but his level has clearly dropped. Even mentally, he used to be much more assured and calmer with the ball, very rarely making the wrong decision.

He does that a lot more now unfortunately, trying to force something to happen too quickly.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Wonder what he has planned for his 25th birthday party. Probably another goal.

 

[Gooner Zig]

I think overall we need to accept a permanent aging of his body and drop in quality.

Saka at his peak though, was one of the best wingers in world football. So even now he's still a fantastic player, but his level has clearly dropped. Even mentally, he used to be much more assured and calmer with the ball, very rarely making the wrong decision.

He does that a lot more now unfortunately, trying to force something to happen too quickly.

Why though? He's only just about to turn 25

 

[sdotzdot]

Why though? He's only just about to turn 25

I can't think of many players who end up with long term niggles or issues and end up figuring it out and go back to their best, it is extremely rare. Injuries are a killer no matter who the player is.

I know people are arguing he looks the same physically but I am clearly watching a different Saka, he looks marginally less stronger and pacy as he used to be. As someone else said despite not being the quickest he used to always either turn his defender or break their legs cutting inside nearly every time he had the ball, whereas now I see him regularly struggle on 1v1s. He also used to be quick over long distances and keep up the pace, whereas now I've seen him go on long bursts numerous times and have to slow down or restrict himself due to his ankle. They are very slight changes, but they are noticeable and affecting his game for sure.

He's still obviously good but I don't think we can ignore how he has been for a while and the red flags with his long term ankle injury, we're seeing the effect in real time and have for a while now.

I do think the way he is utilised in this team needs to be reassessed long term to protect his body as well. I want to see more of him at RCAM eventually.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Had a great World Cup despite limited minutes and has scored two in two to start the season.

A-M: Burial or cremation?

 

[Entropics]

He's clearly world class, I think people is just angry that he doesn't look like a magician baller.

And he never will, because he plays Artetaball every week. We're extremely lucky he managed to adopt his game to deliver despite it. I don't think any of those magician ballers you want would have done the same. He'll continue getting those tapins with world class anticipation and you will continue your misguided criticism of his pace because you want to see something more exciting, but he's too busy winning us matches with the crumbles he gets in attack.

 

[sdotzdot]

He's clearly world class, I think people is just angry that he doesn't look like a magician baller.

And he never will, because he plays Artetaball every week. We're extremely lucky he managed to adopt his game to deliver despite it. I don't think any of those magician ballers you want would have done the same. He'll continue getting those tapins with world class anticipation and you will continue your misguided criticism of his pace because you want to see something more exciting, but he's too busy winning us matches with the crumbles he gets in attack.

No one is calling Saka average.

His top level has however dropped and he has a concerning long term ankle injury, you can bury your head in the sand if you want, but that doesn't change that those things are still true. It also doesn't mean he is suddenly rubbish, he can still be good whilst admitting he has dropped off.

 

[Gooner Zig]

No one is calling Saka average.

His top level has however dropped and he has a concerning long term ankle injury, you can bury your head in the sand if you want, but that doesn't change that those things are still true. It also doesn't mean he is suddenly rubbish, he can still be good whilst admitting he has dropped off.

His top level *hasn't dropped*, that's just not true. I see people keep saying this but they offer zero explanation or evidence. It's like if you say something enough, it eventually becomes truth.

What's dropped is his level of consistency and that's mostly down due to his injuries over the last 18 mo.

People are also blinded by his sharp decrease in output last season which is a statistical outlier in terms of his career trajectory. If you look at his underlying statistics he's still head and shoulders one of the better wingers in the world. I beg people to re-watch his game vs Fulham (home and away), or vs Wolves at home. Those are just off the top of my head but he's the reason why we won all three games and was unplayable.

 

[outlawz]

I’m starting to think the average age on this forum is about 14. I don't even mean that a diss but it can be the only explanation for why so many people react to normal things like it’s their first time ever seeing them happen.

Actually, that would explain quite a lot.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Also Bukayo hasn't had a pre-season - he's effectively having his mini pre-season now so ofc he's going to look a little rusty at times. What's super promising is his goal threat is back.

 

[Geofranco]

I’m starting to think the average age on this forum is about 14. I don't even mean that a diss but it can be the only explanation for why so many people react to normal things like it’s their first time ever seeing them happen.

Actually, that would explain quite a lot.

Isn't everything on the Internet usually hyperbolic? Ever since I have been watching football, some fans have always been reactionary. It's like people always forget that it's a long season, a marathon and not a sprint. That's why Arteta needs to improve his player management and rotate better. But the team simply does not have many top tier attacking players. Only thing holding the team back from greatness.

 

[Red London]

I think overall we need to accept a permanent aging of his body and drop in quality.

Saka at his peak though, was one of the best wingers in world football. So even now he's still a fantastic player, but his level has clearly dropped. Even mentally, he used to be much more assured and calmer with the ball, very rarely making the wrong decision.

He does that a lot more now unfortunately, trying to force something to happen too quickly.

I agree. I’m not sure what people are watching saying he hasn’t lost pace/explosiveness. When I’ve watched clips from him in that 16 PL goal season he looked like a different player agility and explosiveness wise for me.

However, he can still be a top player. It’s just the decision making we know he has, we need him to get that back. Maybe he needs to adjust to losing some of this explosiveness and change his game accordingly.

 

[Gooner Zig]

I agree. I’m not sure what people are watching saying he hasn’t lost pace/explosiveness. When I’ve watched clips from him in that 16 PL goal season he looked like a different player agility and explosiveness wise for me.

However, he can still be a top player. It’s just the decision making we know he has, we need him to get that back. Maybe he needs to adjust to losing some of this explosiveness and change his game accordingly.

Bro, watch clips of his best games just last season. His explosiveness is there, it's just hasn't been there *all the time* because of the hamstring + achilles injuries.

Sorry to pick on you but Saka *is* a top player, you likely didn't mean it this way but when I read "However, he (Saka) can still be a top player" implies that he currently isn't a top player which is crazy to me.