Bukayo Saka being substituted in the 60th minute is quite rare, especially in the context that Arsenal is in need of a goal against Bayer Leverkusen. However, coach Mikel Arteta's decision is not too surprising when looking at the performance of the English player at BayArena.
Throughout an hour of play, Saka was almost completely blocked on the right flank. Leverkusen's defense system often arranges 2 to 3 players to surround, making the Arsenal star unable to create a breakthrough. Statistics show that he only successfully completed 1/4 of the dribbles and won only 2/8 duels.
After the match, Arteta admitted that Arsenal needed another solution to create a breakthrough in a deadlocked game. The decision to put Noni Madueke on the field brought immediate results when this winger continuously broke through directly and he was the one who brought the penalty to help Kai Havertz equalize.
We need something different. Madueke has special qualities. He is brave in holding the ball, always ready to face the opposing defender and create a real threat" - Arteta said after the match.
The lackluster performance against Leverkusen continues to raise concerns about Saka's form this season. The goal that hit and changed direction into Brighton's net last week was only his second goal in the last 19 matches. In all competitions, Saka has only scored 9 goals and had 5 assists in 39 appearances - the lowest efficiency since he became a mainstay of Arsenal.
Part of the reason comes from a serious hamstring injury in December last year, forcing him to undergo surgery and be sidelined for a long time. Since then, Saka has been continuously rotated to control his physical condition, causing him to no longer maintain his familiar playing pace.
Fitness tracking data shows that Saka's maximum speed is almost unchanged compared to previous seasons, even the average number of accelerations per game has increased slightly. However, the effectiveness in attack has decreased significantly. He shoots less, creates fewer opportunities and also has fewer touches in the opponent's penalty area.
Another factor affecting Saka's performance is the instability in tactical connections. The good relationship between him and Martin Odegaard - who was the foundation for many of Arsenal's attacks - was interrupted by the injury of the Norwegian midfielder. These two players have only started 16 out of 47 matches this season.
In addition, Ben White's long-term absence also caused Arsenal's right wing to lose its familiar connection. White often supports Saka with wing overlap and passes that put him in a favorable position to face the opponent's defender - something that Jurrien Timber, a natural center-back, has not been able to fully reproduce.
In that context, the appearance of Madueke gives Arteta more options. This winger has contributed to 6 goals in the last 9 matches, showing that he is gradually integrating into Arsenal's playing style.
However, Arteta's biggest priority is still to help Saka regain his peak form. With the role of the most important player in Arsenal's attacking system for many seasons, the English star returning to his true form can determine the success or failure of the team in the key stage of the season.
