Bukayo Saka was magnificent for Arsenal during the start of the 2022/2023 campaign as the youngster played a major part in Arsenal’s early title charge. His impact on the team was epitomised by the fact that he was called up and used as a starter for England at the 2022 World Cup.
There had been speculation surrounding his future as he is yet to sign a new deal. Arsenal must make securing his future a priority, as his impact highlighted how important he is to the team.
This was epitomised on Boxing Day in Arsenal’s 3-1 win against West Ham. Saka’s influence on the match ensured that Arsenal claim a seven-point gap at the top of the league.
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Saka scored the key equaliser early in the second half for Arsenal, which eventually gave the Gunners the needed to go on and claim all three points. His goal meant that he has become the first Arsenal player to score in three consecutive Boxing Day games since Thierry Henry between 2002-2005. It was fitting with Henry himself at the match due to his punditry duties.
According to 90min, Real Madrid and Manchester City are among the sides monitoring Saka, which Arsenal and the player are aware of, but there's growing confidence that fresh terms will be signed.
Towards the end of last season, the Englishman was viewed as one of the club's most valuable assets and football.london understood that the Gunners had made extending the current contract of the youngster a key priority ahead of the summer transfer window.
Arsenal are said to be pushing hard to tie Saka down to a new long-term contract. The report goes on to claim that Edu believes the deal is on the right track.
Following Arsenal's 3-0 win against Bournemouth in August, it meant that Saka became the second youngest player to reach 100 Premier League appearances, with only Cesc Fabregas ranking above him.
The academy graduate is also in the top five for appearances made for Arsenal before turning 20, meaning he is above Arsenal legends such as David Rocastle and Liam Brady, and has been used more than any other player by Mikel Arteta since he took charge of the team in 2019, highlighting again why it is pivotal that the Gunners tie Saka to a new contract.
Saka was heavily criticised at the start of the season due to the lack of impact from a goal-involvement point of view. However, in recent months he has silenced the critics, and once again established himself as one of Arteta’s most important players.
This has been epitomised by the fact that he has had the same impact on the Gunners that Kevin De Bruyne has for Manchester City from a creative point of view so far this season. He has been a handful for the opposition and arguably Arsenal’s most threatening player.
Following Arsenal’s 1-0 victory against Chelsea where Saka assisted Gabriel Magalhaes for the winner, the youngster put himself three contributions behind De Bruyne for number of assists in the league this season. This also means that he ranks second in the division, with the Man City star leading after assisting on nine occasions.
Saka has shown that he is a pivotal player for Arsenal. His goal-scoring statistic that replicates Henry highlights why the Englishman is pivotal in the Gunners’ title charge.
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