Bukayo Saka's performance in Arsenal's impressive opening-day win has already convinced some fans the Gunners are going to defend their Premier League crown. The 24-year-old's game-time for the north London outfit was managed at the end of last season, as well as with England at the World Cup, because of an Achilles injury he picked up in March. Saka missed the March international break and seven games for the Gunners, but returned to help them lift the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
The winger was then taken off during the Champions League final as Arsenal lost to Paris-St Germain in Budapest and his performance was criticised. England boss Thomas Tuchel also limited his minutes during the World Cup, but asked if he found it frustrating being judged while not 100% fit, Saka said it was a "gamble" he was willing to take. A rest after the tournament seems to have allowed Saka to start this campaign at his best.
He looked sharp against newly promoted Coventry on Friday, giving full-back Jay Dasilva a torrid time while scoring the second goal in the 3-0 win. The sight of Saka flying down the right wing and involved in a lot of Arsenal's attacks will be welcomed by supporters. Because, despite a stop-start season last year, Saka still clocked up 49 appearances for the Gunners and their win percentage was notably more impressive with him in the team.
Saka only started three of England's eight games at the World Cup, including scoring a hat-trick in the 6-4 third-place final win over France. That result secured England's best finish in a World Cup on foreign soil. Saka, though, had been left out of the semi-final defeat by Argentina, despite starting the last-16 win over Mexico and the quarter-final win over Norway.
The winger said after the victory against Mexico he wished he had been at 100% fitness going into the tournament but accepted "that hasn't been the case". Saka played just 357 minutes at the World Cup, just 48% of England's total minutes across eight matches at the tournament. He showed flashes of his quality, providing three assists, which alongside Anthony Gordon was the most of any England player, as well as three goals.
In fact, he registered a goal involvement on average every 60 minutes for the Three Lions during the tournament. Alvarez's Arsenal dilemma amid summer's most bitter transfer tussle Al-Hilal in advanced talks to sign Arsenal's Martinelli Saka returned from the World Cup and after a break rejoined the Arsenal squad, playing his first minutes of this season in the Community Shield, coming on when the Gunners were already leading Manchester City 3-0. His acceleration and sharpness during that cameo was something that was lacking towards the end of last season as the winger looked to help his team get over the line.
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