Has Arsenal star been ‘overcoached’ after 300+ games?

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Bukayo Saka’s recent form has become a talking point among Arsenal supporters and pundits, with questions emerging about whether the club’s reliance on their franchise player is starting to show.

The 24-year-old captained Arsenal in their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City – his 305th appearance for the Gunners in all competitions – as the north London side’s quadruple hopes were dashed.

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes the pressure is taking its toll on Saka. “That pressure to win trophies can tally up and make it difficult,” Rooney said. “I think he has struggled this season. He has played a lot of games in his career already. I think we all know there is more there.”

Numbers tell a different story

Saka has scored just two goals since the turn of the year, finding the net only six times in 27 Premier League appearances this season. Before his strike against Wolves last month, he had gone 15 games without scoring in all competitions.

However, underlying statistics suggest the England international has been unfortunate. According to BBC Sport, expected goals data indicates Saka should have had one more goal and three more assists this season based on the quality of chances he has created and received.

The winger’s nine combined goals and assists in the league represent a quieter campaign by his standards, but opposition teams regularly deploy two or three defenders to neutralise his threat from the right flank.

Injury disruption hampering connections

Arsenal’s right-sided partnerships have been severely disrupted by injuries this season. Captain Martin Odegaard has been limited to just 13 league starts due to knee and shoulder problems, while Ben White has also struggled with fitness issues.

The fluid connection between Saka, Odegaard and White was a cornerstone of Arsenal’s attacking play, allowing the winger to drift into dangerous positions. That chemistry has been largely absent this campaign.

Saka himself has dealt with injury concerns, missing four weeks early in the season with a hamstring problem before suffering a hip injury that ruled him out of three matches in January.

Despite the scrutiny, Saka has actually played more minutes this season (2,869) than last campaign (2,619). With Arsenal still competing on three fronts and England’s World Cup campaign approaching, managing his workload will be crucial.

The Gunners could play up to 15 more matches this season if they reach the FA Cup and Champions League finals, potentially taking Saka’s total appearances to 57. While the numbers may not reflect his usual output, this could still prove to be one of the most significant seasons of his career if Arsenal end their trophy drought.