Saka’s dip in form: Is it time for Arteta to change things up?

The timing of the international break may be just what Arsenal need.

A League Cup final defeat to Manchester City has taken some of the gloss off what remains a hugely promising season, and while Mikel Arteta’s side still sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League , assuming City win their game in hand, there is a sense this is a moment to pause, reset and refocus.

Because, for Arsenal , the priority is clear. The title race is everything.

That context makes the next few weeks particularly intriguing, not least because Arteta appears to have a problem, and potentially a solution, in the same area of the pitch.

With Eberechi Eze now injured just as he was finding form following his summer arrival, Martin Odegaard continuing to struggle with persistent fitness issues, Mikel Merino also sidelined and Ethan Nwaneri on loan at Marseille, Arsenal are suddenly short of options in the No.10 role. At a crucial stage of the season, that leaves a creative gap that needs addressing.

One possible answer may already be in front of Arteta in the shape of Bukayo Saka .

Saka has been Arsenal’s attacking focal point for several seasons now, but there are signs that both he and the system around him could benefit from a slight reset. Moving him inside, even temporarily, would not only help fill the current void but could also offer a different dimension to Arsenal’s play, particularly against teams increasingly set up to stop him on the right flank.

It might also be exactly what he needs physically and mentally.

At 24, Saka has already racked up more than 300 appearances for the club and is among the youngest players in Premier League history to reach 200 starts. That durability has been a huge asset, but it comes with a cost, and there are signs this season that the workload may be catching up with him.

His output has dipped. He has six league goals in 27 appearances, with nine goal contributions in total – well down on the 25 he managed in each of the previous two campaigns. Since the turn of the year, he has scored just twice, and while the underlying numbers suggest he has been slightly unfortunate, the overall trend is hard to ignore.

Across the last four seasons, his combined goals and assists have declined from back-to-back highs of 25 to 16 last season and nine so far this term. On a per-90 basis, his attacking output has also dropped significantly.

Saka’s goal contributions in the Premier League

There are clear reasons for that. Arsenal’s right side, previously one of their biggest strengths, has been disrupted for much of the campaign. Odegaard’s limited availability has broken up a key partnership, while changes behind Saka have affected the rhythm and fluidity that once gave him more freedom.

Opponents have also adjusted, often committing two or even three players to contain him, forcing Arsenal to find solutions elsewhere.

Even so, his importance remains obvious. Arsenal win around 60 per cent of their league games when Saka starts compared to under 50 per cent when he does not, while they also score more goals and win more points per game with him in the side.

He remains central, but perhaps in a different way.

Shifting Saka inside could allow him to influence games more consistently, receiving the ball in pockets of space rather than hugging the touchline under constant pressure. It would also open the door for others to step in on the right, with Noni Madueke offering a direct alternative and Max Dowman available as support.

It is not a perfect solution, but it may be a necessary one given the current circumstances.

None of this should obscure the bigger picture. Arsenal are still in a strong position, and a six-point lead at this stage of the season is significant, even with a trip to the Etihad looming in April. However, the defeat at Wembley has served as a reminder that fine margins remain, and that small adjustments could make a decisive difference.

For Arteta, the challenge now is to navigate this period with confidence, conviction and yet more flexibility. No side in the Premier league had suffered more injury problems than Arsenal this season even before the latest Eze blow, yet they remain top. For Saka, it may be about adapting his role and rediscovering his sharpness at a critical moment in the campaign.

For Arsenal as a whole, it is about ensuring that a very good season becomes something more.

The opportunity is still there, but how they respond after the international break will define whether they take it.