Bukayo Saka’s recent struggles have not gone unnoticed, and the criticism is now coming from one of Arsenal’s most respected figures. David O’Leary, the club’s record appearance holder, has publicly questioned whether Saka is living up to the expectations of his lucrative contract, a statement that carries weight given his own legacy at the club. The winger’s form has been a topic of debate for months, but O’Leary’s blunt assessment—‘he isn’t the player that he was’—has sharpened the focus on a player whose role in both club and country is under scrutiny.
Saka’s 2023-24 season was, by his own standards, a standout campaign. He played 59 matches, logging 4,756 minutes—a personal best—and delivered 21 goals and 15 assists, placing him among Europe’s elite wide forwards. Yet the demands of the 2024 campaign, particularly the physical toll of England’s World Cup preparations, have exposed vulnerabilities. His Achilles injury, which has plagued him since March, has forced him to manage game time carefully, a strategy England manager Gareth Southgate has long advocated. But the question now is whether Saka can sustain the intensity required for both club and country, especially as Arsenal’s title race intensifies and England’s World Cup opener against Croatia approaches.
The criticism extends beyond O’Leary. Every manager who has worked with Saka has repeatedly emphasized the need for caution, a sentiment that has become a refrain in discussions about his workload. His recent Premier League form—zero goals in his last 13 appearances—has further fueled concerns about his consistency. Arsenal’s attack, already thin on scoring options, now faces a dilemma: can Saka be trusted to deliver when it matters most? His absence from the starting lineup in recent matches has not gone unnoticed, and the pressure is mounting as the Gunners chase a historic Champions League final appearance.
Mikel Arteta has acknowledged the challenges, framing the current season as a test of resilience rather than perfection. ‘We have to do more,’ he said after a recent defeat, a sentiment that resonates with Saka’s own determination to prove his critics wrong. Yet the gap between ambition and execution remains a point of tension. With England’s World Cup campaign looming and Arsenal’s title aspirations hanging in the balance, Saka’s ability to bounce back will be the difference between another season of near-misses and a return to form that silences the doubters.
For now, the focus remains on Saka’s readiness for England’s World Cup opener. Despite his injury struggles, he has insisted he is ‘ready to go,’ a declaration that carries both hope and skepticism. The coming weeks will reveal whether his recent form is a blip or a sign of deeper issues. One thing is clear: the pressure on Saka is at its highest, and the stakes could not be higher.
