He’s played constantly and he is not a top player so consistency will at times be an issue especially for a player so young, we need to strengthen the wide positions because he’s not yet so good to be undisputed starter for us
I’m not super worried about him but he does need genuine competition, as does Martinelli
It’s a form slump, hopefully he fights his way out of it in the near future.
This is the issue.
Every team that plays us knows exactly what Saka will do and how important he is to our game.
He gets double, triple and even quadruple teamed almost every game. It worked in our favour with Zinchenko coming in and elevating that left side but naturally we lost that aspect today.
He’s spent the last two seasons carrying the team and in between those seasons played a Euros tournament. He’s played a lot of ball, got the shit kicked out of him and had a ton of responsibility placed on his shoulders. It’s not normal to expect consistent upward trajectory for a young guy.
He needs competition, some rest and will be fine.
Should be benched for the Villa game. We all know how good he is, but a break might do him some good.
Arteta was asked if Gabriel shouldn’t have been put in that position and he said “That’s clear”.
Yikes. Tbf, Gabriel should have done better but Saka was very naive crossing it into our own box like that.
We gotta do some rotation against Villa anyway. The real schedule has just started. We need Saka filly fit for the game against Man Utd.
Absolutely. There was no need for Gabriel to be put in such a position in the first place.
Bukayo is the chosen one.
We just need another viable option at right wing so we don’t have to keep on hideously overplaying him.
For me, he looked visibly tired from the off. A brief break may do him some good
Yea he’s played a lot of football. I’d happily see Eddie come in and mix it up whatever way works best and give him a match or two off.
Teams are targeting him as well. We can’t allow teams to just kick the shit out of him every game. The refs aren’t protecting him either.
Even so, you have to be able to deal with that.
Had so much time to get rid of the ball, I can’t see past him as the one that’s culpable.
Absolutely. The mistake belongs to Gabriel, but I don’t think he should have been put in that position in the first place. Before the goal had happened I wasn’t happy with the type of pass Saka gave him. A high looping pass across the penalty box…better decisions and better execution needed.
I think it’s a good play from Saka to retain possession & continue our play.
Passing to Saliba would have lead to a clearance but passing to Gabriel with so much space continues our play.
Mitrovic was so far from Gabriel when Gabriel received the ball.
Ffs I don’t evem know why are people even mentioning Saka there.
Gabriel was absolutely free and had all the time in the world to make a normal pass or to just smash it forward if he’s not certain where to play it.
There was never absolutely no need to go into a duel with Mitrovic, to get himself into that situation.
Saka absolutely did nothing wrong there.
I agree the decision to make that pass was risky. Big chance to misplace it a bit and for someone to intercept it. I wouldn’t go for that pass personally. But he executed it perfectly, Gabriel was absolutely not in a tough situation at first. But he brought himself there with poor and slow touches and poor decisions. Absolutely no blame on Saka here.
Everyone knows the mistake is Gabriel’s and that’s really not up for debate. That does not make the pass fine. Arteta himself has said the decision to pass there wasn’t an optimal one. The conversation that Gabriel has with Saka at the final whistle looks like Gabriel is saying to play the ball forward at that moment.
If it’s Saliba under that ball, he caresses it and brings that ball out of defence with ease. Gabriel isn’t as technically proficient as Saliba and often struggles with his first touch. Such a mistake is not a surprise. That’s why you don’t put him in such a position. A floated aerial ball across your box is inviting an error. Once he sees from the corner of his eye that Mitrovic is sprinting at him after the pony first touch, he mucks up the second.
I tell you one thing, Saka ain’t making such a pass again. He’s playing that to Saliba’s feet next time.
It’s a combination of factors that didn’t help him. Not the greatest pass choice from Saka, but some of those touches Gabriel takes are shocking and plus it’s also not a great first touch from Gabriel which was horrible as well , Elneny not where he should be for the easy pass. Fortunately turned out not be a big deal and can hopefully be ironed out on training ground.
I don’t want this to go for too long…
But I have to say this again :hipster:
I’m just watching it again. It looks even worse for Gabriel and it makes Saka’s pass look even more harmless/less risky.
There was absolutely no pressure on Gabriel in the first place. Saka’s pass was fine. About Arteta’s comment… I just think he’s trying to protect Gabriel.
But even after he made a somewhat bad first touch (not too bad) he still has all the time in the world either to just kick it forward or even to run with it forward, he was still in a decent position.
But then also makes a shit second touch, IDK what he’s trying to do at this point, he’s basically ignoring Mitrovic’ presence there.
I’m trying to say there was never no need to take on Mitrovic, he was absolutely free.
There was never a situation to “deal with”. He created the situation himself.
Sorry, I’ll be ruthless here… If a defenfer these days isn’t able to “deal” with such a pass under that kind od “pResSurE” (?!) he should abandon the idea of being a starter in any top team immediately.
I don’t even want to throw stones at Gabriel here… I usually like his presence at the back and usually defend him, and I’m far from a big Saka fan… But I just can’t take this talk about Saka doing ANYTHING wrong here. A top team SHOULD be able to play it out from the back in a situation like that, a players should be encouraged to play like that.
Take a look again, there was barely any proper pressurre neither on Saka, nor on Gabriel. Gabriel made an absolute mess out of NOTHING.
Agreed with your post bar the Saka pass being fine. But still. Absolutely horrible those touches by Gabriel were disgraceful . shocking from Gabriel there. The arrogance first of all from him. And then thinking he could take more touches when the first touch ain’t good and next two touches were terrible as well 
. No need to dwell on it, knew Mitrovic was coming.
