In 237 games for Arsenal, following his breakthrough campaign just six seasons ago, Arsenal talisman, Bukayo Saka, has notched 65 goals and 52 assists, still at the tender age of 23.
In the last three Premier League campaigns, Saka has improved leaps and bounds, averaging more than 20 goal involvements in the division, and much more in all competitions. 20 goal contributions in 2021/22 (11 goals, nine assists), 26 goal involvements in 2022/23 (14 goals, 12 assists) and 28 goal involvements last season (16 goals, 12 assists). On Arsenal’s return to the Champions League last season, Saka played nine games, scoring four goals and creating four assists.
Putting his performances last season under the microscope, Saka opened the scoring against Nottingham Forest, supplied two assists in quick succession against Manchester United and Everton, provided a goal and assist in the Champions League opener against PSV Eindhoven, scored Tottenham in the North London Derby, scored Bournemouth, provided back to back assists against RC Lens and Chelsea, had a dry patch in four games before coming back to form with a goal and assist against Sevilla.
After the international break, Saka provided the assist for the late Kai Havertz goal against Brentford, scored and assisted in the 6-0 demolition of RC Lens, scored against Wolves, assisted against Luton and ended the year with a goal against Fulham. Saka started the new year with a bang, assisting against Crystal Palace, doing the double against Nottingham, scoring Liverpool, then back-to-back braces against West Ham and Burnley. He didn’t stop there. Saka scored Newcastle, assisted against Sheffield United, scored Brighton and Bayern Munich, assisted against Chelsea, scored and assisted in the North London Derby and scored his final goal in the campaign against Bournemouth.
Despite having little to no preseason action due to his involvement with England in the Euros, Saka started the new campaign with a goal assist against Wolves, before back to back assists against Aston Villa and Brighton. If Saka hasn’t been consistent with his attacking returns, overall play and influence in the game for Arsenal, then I don’t know what the word is.
That’s why I was flummoxed when I read an article where Arsenal legend, Robert Pires, stated that Saka isn’t consistent and Jeremy Doku, yes, that Doku that can’t start at Manchester City to save his life and stunk all over the place for Belgium at Euro 2024, is better than Saka,
“In my opinion, Jeremy Doku from Manchester City is a bit better because he is technically stronger, has better dribbling skills, and is more imaginative.
“Bukayo Saka still lacks a certain level of consistency and experience, especially in the big games”
First things first – I love Pires and he was one of my heroes growing up. I also believe that Pires, like everyone else out there, has an opinion, but I’m sorry, this ‘opinion’ is pure unadulterated tripe. If Pires compared Saka to a legend like Mo Salah that has been killing it for years at Liverpool, this blog post will not even exist. However, comparing him with Doku, and concluding that Doku is actually better and more consistent makes as much sense as expecting English refs to officiate a Premier League game without any errors.
Doku hasn’t done enough, especially when it comes to attacking returns, to be compared with Saka. Is he a better dribbler? Oh yes! Does he have better technique? That’s arguable. Is he more imaginative than Saka? Certainly not. When it comes to ‘big games’, Doku is never selected for such games and his goals for Manchester City last season came against West Ham, Bournemouth and Luton Town. He scored two other goals in the FA Cup – one against Huddersfield Town and the final against Manchester City.
Saka remains a modicum of consistency at Arsenal, and if Pires can’t see it, then that’s his own cup of tea.
Sayonara.
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