Is Saka finding his best form again at Arsenal?
After managing an Achilles injury and limited World Cup minutes, Bukayo Saka has started the new season sharply for Arsenal, scoring in the opening win over Coventry.
Bukayo Saka's display in Arsenal's opening-day victory has already got some fans believing the Gunners can defend their Premier League title.
The 24-year-old's game time was carefully managed at the end of last season and during England's World Cup campaign following an Achilles injury sustained in March. That injury forced him to miss the March international break and seven Arsenal games, though he returned in time to help the club win its first Premier League title in 22 years. He was later substituted during Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, a performance that drew criticism.
England manager Thomas Tuchel also restricted Saka's minutes at the World Cup. Asked whether it was frustrating being judged while not fully fit, Saka described it as a gamble he was prepared to take.
World Cup and recovery
Saka started only three of England's eight World Cup matches, including a hat-trick in the 6-4 third-place win over France, which secured England's best finish at a World Cup held abroad. He was left out of the semi-final loss to Argentina despite starting the last-16 and quarter-final wins. In total he played 357 minutes, 48% of England's tournament minutes, contributing three assists and three goals.
After a rest following the tournament, Saka rejoined Arsenal, making his first appearance of the season as a substitute in the Community Shield. He then impressed against newly promoted Coventry, troubling full-back Jay Dasilva and scoring Arsenal's second goal in a 3-0 win. Speaking afterwards, Saka said he had taken seven days off before resuming intensive training to be ready for the new season, adding that frustration from the World Cup had left him hungry for the campaign ahead.
Saka's sharpness has also been helped by the return to fitness of Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Ben White — the Coventry game marked only the second time since December 2024 that the trio started a Premier League match alongside him. Over the past three seasons Saka has played 153 matches, 61 of them the full 90 minutes, prompting questions over how reliant Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is on him.
