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?

  • danmac0817@alien.topBEnglish
    0·
    11 months ago

    Others need to step up. Odegaard has gone missing offensively lately, pretty much since signing a new deal. Havertz as LCM doesn’t really know what to do while ESR and Vieira are unable to do enough to get more chances. Our STs are starved of chances and aren’t clinical enough for the few we do create.

    I think once you address these sorts of things you’ll see a drastic change. I don’t think we’re miles away from doing enough, we just need a couple things to click in our attacking unit.

    • BiggerBadgers@alien.topBEnglish
      0·
      11 months ago

      I think a big problem with Ode is how teams currently set up. All play through the middle is completely clogged. Games where teams don’t have essentially a 4 man box midfield he absolutely destroys teams. We just need Arteta (or Pep lol) to figure out the next tactical tweak to overcome this. It’s why lots of games this season seem stodgier against us and city.

      Other players also need to step up.

      • Ricechairsandbeans@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        jesus coming deep all the time also doesn’t help, with martinelli and saka hugging the touchlines there’s never anyone in the box