Arsenal moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table after their 2-0 win over Everton at The Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Ezri Konsa and Gabriel either side of half-time secured all three points for the hosts, who kept their fifth clean sheet in eight matches in the division.
Mikel Arteta opted to rotate his options at the top end of the pitch and brought Viktor Gyokeres in, and the striker got the last touch before Konsa opened the scoring in the seventh minute.
The Gunners had to cope without star player Bukayo Saka on the right wing, after the forward sustained a thigh injury that is due to keep him out until December.
Why losing Bukayo Saka may not be a big blow
Losing the England international to injury is a blow, as it takes away a key attacking option for Arteta, but his recent form in the Premier League means that it may not be a big blow.
Since scoring in the first two games of the season, against Coventry and Aston Villa, Saka has scored one penalty and failed to provide any assists in five games in the top-flight.
The 25-year-old winger is a superstar at his best, having hit double figures for both goals and assists in three of the last four seasons, but he has not been at his best in the league this season.
|
Bukayo Saka’s last five Premier League games |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Opposition |
Non-penalty goals |
Big chances created |
|
Nottingham Forest |
0 |
0 |
|
Leeds |
0 |
0 |
|
Brighton |
0 |
0 |
|
Sunderland |
0 |
0 |
|
Chelsea |
0 |
0 |
In the last five Premier League matches, Saka has not scored any non-penalty goals or created a single ‘big chance’ for his teammates to score, as he continues to look for his first league assist of the campaign.
This time out through injury could give the Englishman a chance to reset and refresh himself before coming back to be at the peak of his powers in December.
Arsenal have already found their new Bukayo Saka
Thankfully, Arsenal and Arteta already have another attacking star who has emerged as the club’s new version of Saka in recent weeks in North London.
After the 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, Arteta lauded Noni Madueke’s impact of late. The Gunners boss said: “I’m very impressed, and to have that availability with him is really necessary because of the injuries to Bukayo and Christos, two players who give us so much threat in the final third.
“I like him, and if he continues to transform his capacity to be more consistent in actions, he’s an unbelievable player.”
The England international was a constant threat in the win over the Toffees, as he completed three dribbles and five progressive carries, whilst he also created two chances for his teammates and had three shots on goal.
Like Saka, the former Chelsea forward is a left-footed winger who predominantly plays on the right side of the attack, and he is starting to look like his England teammate in his prime.
Madueke, in fact, has been even more direct and more creative than the Hale End graduate in the Premier League this season, averaging 3.27 chances created per 90.
|
26/27 Premier League (per 90) |
Saka |
Madueke |
|---|---|---|
|
Successful dribbles |
1.20 |
2.18 |
|
Touches in opposition box |
5.87 |
5.18 |
|
Chances created |
1.51 |
3.27 |
|
Big chances created |
0.00 |
0.36 |
|
Cross success rate |
33.3% |
40% |
|
xA |
0.18 |
0.22 |
The 24-year-old speedster has done more to create high-quality chances for his teammates in the league than Saka, whilst he has also been more direct with the ball at his feet, as shown by their respective successful dribbles per 90.
Madueke also showed off his threat as a goalscorer recently by coming off the bench to score the winning goal against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The English forward has now scored two goals, created three ‘big chances’, and provided one assist in his last six appearances for the Gunners in all competitions,
He is in sublime form at the moment, hence why Arteta was so quick to praise him after Saturday’s win, and his recent performances are another reason why Saka’s injury may not be a huge blow for the Gunners.
Madueke still has a way to go before he can be considered a consistent and reliable player for the Gunners, but his current form is making him look like Arsenal’s new version of Saka on the flank.
It is now down to him to step up and continue to deliver quality in the final third on the right wing now that his England teammate is out for the next six weeks.
