Saka has had at least one direct goal involvement in every game he’s played for us this season except for the 1-0 win at Palace.
He’s had a total of 12 direct goal involvements which represents 52% of the goals Arsenal have scored in games featuring Saka and 57% of the goals Arsenal have scored while Saka was on the pitch (2 goals - against PSV and Bournemouth - were scored after Saka had been subbed off with Arsenal already leading 3-0).
The two games he didn’t play were both 1-0 wins (Brentford in the League Cup and Man City), so Saka has been directly involved in 48% of Arsenal’s total goals this season, including those scored in games he didn’t play.
Personally, I don’t think this is because of anything Saka is doing. He’s been playing very well, as usual, but the fact Arsenal are depending on him so heavily for goal contributions reflects the fact that our other attacking players have been much less dangerous than we would like.
What needs to be done to remove this burden from Saka and ensure we don’t become a one-man attacking team?
I feel like we there has been a concerted shift to be more deliberate with our play to break down the low blocks we face so often.
But I think the issue is we are too slow getting the ball from defence to midfield (or from our third or our half of the middle third of the pitch to their half). That gives opponents too much time to set their defences and get organised with me behind the ball. Too often we have Saliba and Gabriel passing it around on the edge of our box, I just feel last year they were passing the ball a lot closer to the middle of the pitch. Our deliberate play should be occurring in the middle of the pitch or the opponents third to really stretch them, feels like we’re too slow in crafting our attacks from way too deep which gives our front 5 absolutely no room to work which is why they’ve all struggled
See the second half vs Chelsea.
With Rice as the deep cm he was a little brave to step past people and push passes forward.
Didn’t have any of that in the first place. Jorginho is a safe bet but doesn’t push us forward sadly.
Jorge makes some incredible line breaking passes. Was one of stats I recall him excelling in. But I agree he’s not a safe bet anymore with age / fitness. A great third choice