Does Saka Need Some Support at Arsenal?
As one of Arsenal’s brightest talents and a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s system, Bukayo Saka has carried an enormous amount of responsibility over the past few seasons. Still just 22 years old, the England international has played a staggering number of minutes across all competitions, often being relied upon to produce moments of brilliance in tight matches. But as Arsenal continues to challenge on multiple fronts — domestically and in Europe — the question becomes increasingly pressing: Does Saka need more support?
A Heavy Workload
In the 2023/24 season alone, Saka featured in over 50 games for club and country. His consistency and durability have been impressive, but the demands of such an intense schedule inevitably raise concerns about fatigue, burnout, and injury. Arsenal’s ambitions are growing, and with Champions League football, domestic cup runs, and a fierce Premier League title race on the cards, relying so heavily on one player for width, creativity, and goals from the right flank is a risk.
Arteta has often spoken about Saka’s importance to the team, praising his professionalism and attitude. However, the lack of a natural or reliable backup option has left the Gunners vulnerable when Saka is unavailable or off-form. On several occasions, when he’s been visibly tired or carrying a knock, the team’s attacking output has suffered significantly.
Current Options & Limitations
Reiss Nelson has been used sporadically as a rotation option on the right wing, but while he has shown flashes of quality, he hasn’t consistently performed at a level that matches Arsenal’s top-tier aspirations. Fabio Vieira and even Gabriel Jesus have also been tested out wide, but none have the same blend of dynamism, creativity, and end product that Saka offers.
This lack of depth puts pressure not just on Saka, but on the entire system. With no viable alternative, Arteta has little choice but to start him in most games — even when rest might be the wiser option.
The Case for a Reinforcement
Arsenal’s recent transfer windows have shown strategic planning and a desire to build depth across all positions — as seen with the signings of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and Declan Rice. Bringing in a high-quality right winger to ease the burden on Saka should be a priority this summer.
Ideally, such a signing would:
- Offer tactical flexibility and keep Saka fresh for the biggest games.
- Allow Arteta to rest or rotate Saka without compromising quality.
- Provide genuine competition that could push Saka to even greater levels.
- Step up seamlessly during injuries or fixture congestion.
Names like Michael Olise, Pedro Neto, and Raphinha have previously been linked to Arsenal and could fit the bill — though any signing would need to be carefully considered to ensure they can both complement and compete with a player of Saka’s calibre.
Looking Ahead
Saka remains the heartbeat of Arsenal’s attack, but the physical toll of a long season is real — and smart squad building means planning not just for today, but for sustainability and success over a 60+ game season. Protecting Saka doesn’t mean limiting him; it means giving him the support he needs to thrive at the highest level, game after game, year after year.
As Arsenal looks to take that final step from title challengers to champions, providing reliable depth behind their most important players — starting with Bukayo Saka — may be the missing piece.
