Arsenal hero questions how to fix the form of Saka

Arsenal are still setting the pace in the Premier League run-in, but there’s been growing focus on Bukayo Saka’s form and output by his usual standards - and on what tweaks, if any, Mikel Arteta could make to get him back to his best. Saka has six goals and three assists in the league this season, while Arsenal’s overall goal tally remains strong, with 61 Premier League goals scored.

We caught up with former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn to discuss whether a switch for Saka into a central role is realistic given Arsenal’s midfield options, what Arsenal still need from their front line in terms of numbers, why spreading goals across the squad can be a strength (but also a risk if returns dip), and whether the left wing is the clearest area to upgrade — with players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inevitably being mentioned.

A central role for Saka is unlikely

Saka has occasionally been used in the No.10 role this season, but Winterburn doesn’t see that as a realistic solution given Arsenal’s current options in that area.

"Let's look at Saka in central midfield first, the No. 10 role. We've got Ødegaard, we bought Eze to play in that position as well and eventually you're going to have a young Max Dowman coming through."

"Yeah Max Dowman can play on the right-hand side but if his projection of how we assume he's going to play keeps elevating himself forward, then we're assuming he'll be the No. 10 maybe quite quickly. Obviously that's down to the player, down to the manager, down to the club, on how he progresses and how he is in and around the first team squad."

He does believe Saka can play centrally, but only if it’s clearly an upgrade on what Arsenal already have there. That being said, Eberechi Eze’s latest injury setback could see Saka or Dowman feature more frequently in midfield.

"Can Saka play that role? I think he can. We've seen little bits of that already but it would have to be at a higher level than the two that play there at the moment - Ødegaard and Eze. I just don't see that happening."

"If you were to say to me will Saka play in that position from now until the end of the season if the other two are fit, then no I don't think so."

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It is Arteta’s responsibility to help Saka rediscover his form

The ex-Arsenal defensive stalwart agreed there’s been a dip in Saka’s form, but argued it needs to be seen through the lens of injuries, game state, and how teams defend him.

"In terms of form, I think you're right, there has been a little bit of a drop-off. What you also need to look at is that twice last season and once this season, he's had injuries. You're assuming he's fully over them. Is it Arsenal's style of play? Are we a bit too slow in transitions? He's usually got two men marking him which makes it very difficult."

He added that elite attackers are always judged by their end product, and Saka needs to add to his tally - something that both he and Arteta have to work together to improve.

"When you've been at such a high level, you are judged by what you're doing going forward. I would imagine it's been a frustrating time for him as well."

"For me it's not criticism because anybody can have a bit of a drop in form. I would throw it back to Mikel Arteta and Bukayo and say, 'right, how do we get you back to the very top level which we know you're capable of producing'. That may be a tweak in the way they play, a tweak in the positions that Bukayo is being asked to play."

"There has been a slight drop in form, and that's not a criticism, it's there for a lot of people to see."

Arsenal have various goalscorers but more is needed from the attacking line

The Gunners’ goals this season have come from a variety of players. Still, Winterburn believes title-winning output usually requires stronger returns across the front line, not just from the striker.

“If you were to ask me what you need to win the Premier League, usually you talk about a striker getting 20 league goals and if they’re not then you want 15-18 from your striker and your attacking wide players and number ten will need to offer a higher return than what we’ve got.”

He outlined the sort of numbers he thinks Arsenal need from wide players and the No.10.

“Let’s say our two wide players have eight to ten goals and your number ten has six to seven then that’s a high percentage of goals and chances created. At times, Arsenal haven’t created that many chances but because of how they’ve set up defensively and as a team, that has helped them through this period.”

The 1997-98 Premier League winner also said he wouldn’t want Arsenal to swing too far the other way and become overly reliant on one player.

“Would I like to see our centre forward scoring 25 goals and the others only getting two or three? Probably not. It means there’s too much reliance on one guy. We could see that with Haaland until Semenyo came in. For me I would like to see through the front line a healthy number of goals between them. I wouldn’t want to see one player dominating that. It’s risky.”

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the upgrade needed on the left hand side

On links to PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as a potential upgrade on the left, Winterburn first warned that transfer speculation often ignores the most basic question - whether the player actually wants the move.

"When we start throwing names around, we start to assume they'd want to join Arsenal. You have to be very, very careful."

"I don't know how far we want to go back but let's go halfway through the season, I'd say Trossard was the wide player in form, with the most goals, I think and most assists or chances created. He switched a bit with Martinelli, who had that unbelievable run of scoring in four-five games."

"Trossard was injured and I don't think he's come back to his highest level. Martinelli is in and out of the team."

The Gunners legend feels the left side is the obvious “upgrade” area if Arsenal are looking for marginal gains.

"I suppose you'd say that if Arsenal are looking at upgrading a position, then it would be on that left hand side. That's not hiding from the fact or saying that the other two aren't good. They are good players but you're asking ‘would the club be looking at someone who can take it to the next level’?”

“I think Mikel Arteta and the club would say that we're doing that with every position. Certain positions would be very hard to upgrade but you keep looking and keep trying because if the window opens for you to get somebody, you go ahead and take it."

"Kvaratskhelia, boy oh boy, if he knocked on the door and said I want to come to Arsenal, I don't think many people would say, 'no, thank you'. I think they'd be saying, 'if we can afford you, come on in'.”

Read more as Nigel Winterburn examines Arsenal's League Cup final defeat to Manchester City