Mikel Arteta is being blamed for holding back an Arsenal player who some think should be benched, even after the win against Leeds United.
Arsenal fans have been talking about Mikel Arteta after the team’s comeback win against Leeds United, with some saying he’s been ‘ruining’ Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners came back from the international break three points behind Manchester City, having lost 3-0 to Brighton last time out. Their chance to catch up to City took a hit when James Justin scored just after half-time. But Riccardo Calafiori quickly equalized, and Arsenal took control. Bruno Guimaraes came off the bench yet again to score the winning goal, giving Arsenal a much-needed victory.
Even though Arsenal won, it wasn’t their best game. Several players, including Bukayo Saka, didn’t shine as expected. Saka had a tough time making an impact, especially since he had scored twice for England just days before. Usually strong on the right wing, he couldn’t complete a single dribble in the first half and only made three forward runs all game. He did improve a bit in the second half and was more dangerous on the counterattack, but his overall performance was underwhelming.
Fans quickly shared their worries on social media. One said, “This Saka performance is scary, bro. I’m actually worried for him.” Another missed the player he used to be, commenting, “Saka used to be one of the best wingers in the world, but now he barely dribbles past anyone.” Some blamed his recent drop in form on signing a big contract two seasons ago, feeling he hasn’t improved since.
Some fans also pointed fingers at Arteta, saying he’s not managing Saka well and has been using him too much. “Arteta ruined and overused him; you can see the effects now,” one fan wrote. Another said, “Saka isn’t the same player anymore, not even like last season. Arteta needs to manage player minutes better before they get worn out.”
The struggle was clear in the final moments of the game when Saka got a chance one-on-one with the goalkeeper but didn’t show enough confidence, and the shot was saved.
Up next, Arsenal will take on Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday night, before facing Nottingham Forest next Sunday (October 18).