The narrative this summer coming out of Arsenal was all about their forward line. Would it be good enough to mount another successful challenge for the Premier League title?
Well, they have emphatically swatted away the doubters in recent weeks, carving Manchester City and then Coventry City apart with ease.
The Gunners have won their opening two matches of the campaign by an aggregate score of 6-0. A new forward may not have arrived in the dying embers of the transfer window just yet, but everything looks rather rosy.
At the heart of that has been starboy, Bukayo Saka.
How Saka has returned to form at Arsenal
Arsenal supporters were worried about Saka over the summer. Would the wide man ever rediscover his best form?
An Achilles issue really hampered his World Cup. He started just three times for England out in North America, something that no doubt negatively impacted their chances of winning the tournament.
However, after a three week break, Saka is threatening to get back to his best already.
Now 24, the winger is not the young star of tomorrow anymore. He’s maturing all the time and as he begins to reach his peak years, it looks as though he’s been able to fend off any critics that were starting to appear.
Saka barely featured in pre-season and it was perhaps a surprise that he started ahead of Noni Madueke against Coventry last week. Well, it was just as well he did as he made a phenomenal impact.
The Englishman’s finish from close range was simple but it was wonderful to see him back among the goals nonetheless. Together with Ben White and Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s right-hand side is well in sync again.
During that 3-0 win, Saka played two key passes, had three shots and completed five progressive carries. He was so dangerous.
|
Saka vs Coventry City |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
68 |
|
Touches |
49 |
|
Key passes |
2 |
|
Shots |
3 |
|
Shots on target |
1 |
|
Successful dribbles |
1 |
|
Carries |
15 |
|
Progressive carries |
5 |
|
Duels won |
3/5 |
|
Fouled |
1x |
On the left, he also had a helping hand from new signing Christos Tzolis, who was actually the provider of his goal. Together, it looks like Arsenal may finally have two wingers capable of matching each other.
That said, they need more before the window slams shut.
How Arsenal could sign another Saka
Name one of Europe’s top wingers and it is likely they have been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer.
That said, none of them have signed. Vinicius Junior decided to stay at Real Madrid. Morgan Rogers moved to Chelsea and Bradley Barcola is on his way to Liverpool.
So, what’s the plan? Well, a move is being lined up for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez while there could still be time for one more winger. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is one target. Another is Barcola’s former PSG teammate, Ibrahim Mbaye.
Mbaye has also been a target for Liverpool this summer but he’s firmly on Arsenal’s radar with TEAMtalk reporting that they have held initial talks with clubs regarding a number of wingers including Mbaye, Ndiaye and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams.
The former may not be a household name and he may not be the elite figure many supporters were craving this summer but he’s already generated a considerable amount of hype in France.
GOAL.com have already declared him to be “the next Kylian Mbappe” and is it easy to see why. Like Mbappe, he boasts “lightning pace” in the words of Como scout Ben Mattinson, who further praises Mbaye for his agility.
Aged just 18, this would be a clever move in light of not just Tzolis’ start to life at Arsenal but also Gabriel Martinelli’s departure from the Emirates Stadium.
Sure, Tzolis is not in his prime but he’s certainly more proven than Mbaye. The latter, therefore, would be a phenomenal understudy.
Despite his age, the £60m-rated wide man is already demonstrating that he is one of the best young wingers in Europe. As Saka did as a teenager, the PSG sensation has already begun to catch the eye at first-team level, playing 42 times for the Champions League winners, scoring four goals and registering four assists too.
Like Saka, Mbaye is also a phenomenal carrier of the football. Last season he ranked as highly as the finest 4% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries per 90 minutes with 5.42.
He’s exactly the sort of player Arsenal have been looking for this summer. Barcola and Vinicius are two of the continent’s finest ball-carriers too.
So, while the teen may not be at an elite level overall yet, there is an expectation in the years to come that he could be named among some of the game’s finest forwards.
