Arsenal: 2 players with positions they must keep this season

Play Bukayo Saka on the Right and Don’t Look Back

The debate over where Saka is best suited has been long running, with the various points of argument stemming from the plethora of positions he’s played for in his short career.

Is he best as a roaming No. 10 in a 3-4-3? A left-winger where he can drive to the touchline? One of a midfield trio?

It’s out on the right. Without doubt. It became noticeable how easily he slotted into the role way back in September 2020.

Not as an out-and-out winger since they’re a dying breed, but instead on the right of a 4-2-3-1 where his glorious out-to-in runs can wreak havoc on the opposition and his two-footedness makes for devastating unpredictability.

Seeing the goal he netted for England, while against weak opposition, was a prime example of where his talents are best suited. Phil Foden’s delightful central outswinging left-footed pass was superbly collected by Saka who needed only the one touch before firing into the roof of the net. It’s the kind of pass and link-up that you can envisage Odegaard feeding to Saka in red and white.

For too long he’s been shifted into different positions, either out on the left when Thomas Partey plays as the single pivot or in a similar position when one of Smith Rowe or Odegaard doesn’t feature, and it’s time to let him command one area of the pitch.

Still versatile enough to play almost every attacking (and some defending) roles, even in cases where Nicolas Pepe starts it should be the Ivorian on the left where can be closer to the box with Kieran Tierney’s width and Saka on the right where his wide-ranging set of skills can be best utilised.

Fortunately it does appear as if the team that was put out against Brighton looks set to be the Premier League team if everyone is fit.

Keep the 4-2-3-1 when you’re not taking on Norwich at home and play your best players in their best positions, right?