Bukayo Saka’s name has been in the media a lot this week, with Jamal Musiala praising him but former Gunner Robert Pires suggesting he lacks consistency.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 31, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka continues to be a key figure for club and country, emphasised by the fact he’s just won Arsenal’s Player of the Month award, been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, and received a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Month award.
On international duty in September, Saka made starts against both Ireland and Finland, playing 90 minutes in the first game and coming off with his team in the lead in the second.
So perhaps it should be no surprise that his name has been in the media quite a lot this week.
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Granit Xhaka of Bayer Leverkusen battles for possession with Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on February 10, 2024. (Photo by Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images)
Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala picked out Saka as one of his favourite young players in Europe right now.
“Jude [Bellingham] is doing amazing,” Musiala began, before adding: “Pedri is an amazing player [and] Saka from Arsenal.”
It’s easy to forget that Saka really should still count as a young player. He only had his 23rd birthday this month, meaning he would still be eligible for the Arsenal u23 team he last played for in 2019.
But not all of the talk about Saka has been positive, with Robert Pires suggesting the winger needs to find more consistency.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
“Bukayo still lacks a certain level of consistency,” Pires said. “In my opinion, Jeremy Doku is a bit better. He has better dribbling skills and is more imaginative.”
The comments are a bit odd given Saka’s 2024 performances, which have been very consistent.
Since the turn of the year, Saka has scored or assisted in 15 of the 19 Premier League matches he’s played for Arsenal, as well as scoring in the Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich (and being unfairly denied a late penalty).
By contrast, Doku has scored or assisted in 4 of his 21 Premier League games in 2024. He didn’t manage a goal or assist in the Champions League knockouts, and he blanked at Euro 2024 whilst Saka added a goal and assist at the tournament.
If one player deserves criticism for inconsistent performances, it’s arguably Doku, not Saka.
