Arsenal has a major decision to make regarding Bukayo Saka before their clash with Real Madrid.
Just a week prior to Bukayo Saka suffering a hamstring injury in December, Mikel Arteta suggested shifting the winger into a more central role.
Arteta was questioned regarding the possibility of altering Saka's playing position to unlock even greater potential from him, as he had been Arsenal’s top offensive talent so far that season.
A key position might provide Saka with additional time to control the ball and consequently increase his opportunity to make a significant impact on the match.
"I believe that will largely hinge on his teammates' abilities and the players surrounding him," stated Arteta.
For someone to be positioned inside rather than outside, another individual must take up an external position. This means that the player playing as a full-back, attacking midfielder, or No. 9 needs to create enough space for such movement.
But I'm definitely open to continue developing players. Occasionally, it might be about changing their roles, or adjusting their positions on the field. There are also times when we can explore other options to help them spend more time in specific positions.
Since when the ball is way over on the other end, we have the option to position ourselves as we please, however, such considerations are definitely on our mind.
Prior to Saka’s injury, the case for moving him – as Arteta noted – didn’t hold much weight since it would be challenging to identify an adequate replacement for the right wing position.
With the winger unavailable, Ethan Nwaneri has stepped up as a contender for that position, whereas Gabriel Martinelli has also proven reliable when playing wide.
Saka is flexible enough to take on various roles and has frequently changed positions throughout his career. He initially made his debut for Arsenal’s senior squad as a left-back before shifting further forward to operate as a wing-back.
Saka would undoubtedly be well-suited to play on the left wing, an issue position for Arsenal this campaign.
The most captivating possibility would be seeing Saka play centrally as a No8. This has happened infrequently, though one notable match from as far back as 2020 comes to mind.
Arsenal played at Brighton and suffered a 2-1 defeat, with their match marred by Bernd Leno sustaining an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
In an empty stadium caused by the COVID pandemic, Saka shone playing as a left-sided number eight in a 4-3-3 system. He assisted in setting up Arsenal’s sole goal and struck the crossbar with one of his shots.
The experiment was discontinued following that, possibly because of the setback, and Arteta returned to using a 3-4-3 formation with Saka positioned as a left wing-back.
Considering Arsenal’s current quest for creative players, there might be an urge to deploy Saka upon his return next month.
Actually, it seems more and more that Arsenal would be better off leaving their star player in place.
It's simple to overlook how impressive Saka was performing at the beginning of this season.
Despite last playing in December, the 23-year-old ranks second in assists within the Premier League this season, with only Mohamed Salah having more.
If he had maintained his fitness, it is entirely possible that Saka could have broken the Premier League record for most assists in a single season with 20 or more.
His comeback to the right flank could also enable Arsenal to bring back their most potent attacking force.
The collaboration between Saka and Martin Odegaard has been incredibly damaging for the Gunners.
Odegaard has faced challenges when Saka hasn’t been around, which is evident from Arsenal’s performances in the 12 games where both players were in action together this season. During these matches, the team accumulated an impressive tally of eight victories, four ties, and 30 goals scored.
The possibility of their reunion could bring about significant change to Arsenal’s offense, particularly since right-back Ben White has recovered from his injury as well.
Certainly, one can argue that Saka’s position may develop over time – and Arteta has acknowledged being receptive to this possibility.
Now, however, does not feel like the moment for it. Arsenal’s attack is struggling and they need their talisman back in his best position.
Changing Saka’s position at this point would be akin to Liverpool requesting Salah to take on a different role.
By Simon Collings, yahoosports.co.uk
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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