Arteta Defends Star Winger After Champions League Struggles

Mikel Arteta has come to the defence of Bukayo Saka following the winger’s difficult performance in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The England international endured a frustrating night at the Emirates, losing possession 14 times as Leverkusen’s disciplined defensive setup clearly targeted the Gunners’ main creative outlet. Despite wearing the captain’s armband, Saka was substituted in the second half for Noni Madueke, who went on to win the penalty that salvaged a crucial point for the north London side.

Manager Shows Faith in Star Player

“With B, we fully trust him and love him. What he’s doing for us, for this club, is just incredible at his age, and he continues to have that massive impact for us,”

Arteta told reporters when questioned about Saka’s display.

The Arsenal boss acknowledged that individual performances can fluctuate, adding that when looking at Saka’s overall contribution and input to the team, it remains “just incredible.”

This season has seen Saka register nine goals and seven assists across 39 appearances, accumulating 2,599 minutes on the pitch. Those numbers already approach his total from last campaign (2,619 minutes), when he managed 12 goals and 14 assists despite missing nearly three months following hamstring surgery.

Disrupted Partnerships Taking Their Toll

Arteta pointed to the constant changes in Arsenal’s right-sided unit as a contributing factor to Saka’s current form. The combination of Saka, Martin Odegaard and either Ben White or Jurrien Timber has been a cornerstone of the Gunners’ attacking play, but injuries have severely disrupted this partnership throughout the campaign.

Both Odegaard and White have missed significant periods through injury, while Saka’s understanding with new striker Viktor Gyokeres has appeared less fluid compared to his previous partnership with Kai Havertz.

“We have changed that unit a lot, much more than in recent years. The amount of games and minutes that he’s played now, I think it’s a bit more than already the whole of last season,”

Arteta explained.

The manager acknowledged the physical demands being placed on his star winger, suggesting that the increased workload and constant tactical adjustments have inevitably affected certain aspects of the team’s performance.

With Arsenal still competing on multiple fronts, managing Saka’s minutes and rebuilding the chemistry in the final third will be crucial as the season reaches its business end.