Bukayo Saka: Is the Arsenal winger Europe’s leading creator? | OneFootball

Arsenal supporters were smiling when Bukayo Saka was announced as part of the lineup to face Liverpool.

With central defensive lynchpin William Saliba missing for this crucial top-of-the-table match, the Gunners could hardly afford to be without another star player.

Saka was named captain in Martin Ødegaard’s ongoing absence. The Norwegian playmaker has been sidelined for six consecutive Premier League matches due to a persistent ankle injury. Last season, the Norwegian playmaker was by some distance the club’s most creative player, having created 102 chances (2.9 per game). His impact though has not been as strongly felt this campaign, as Arsenal’s number seven has stepped up in Ødegaard’s place.

In the game against Liverpool, Saka broke the deadlock in a match that ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw, albeit during the 85 minutes he was on the field, he did not create a single chance, which is something he’s been doing plenty this season.

After the first nine rounds of the 2024/25 Premier League season, in which Saka missed one game, he has created more chances than any other player in the league this season (27). If we expand into Europe’s top five leagues and focus on big chances created, only Barcelona’s in-form forward Raphinha (14) surpasses Saka (12), while rising star Lamine Yamal (11) is the only other player in double digits.

Out of the chances created, seven have been successfully converted, placing Saka in the lead for this season’s playmaker award. Additionally, no other player in the mentioned competitions has recorded more assists, with Saka tied with former teammate Nuno Tavares, who is now at Lazio.

Currently, only four players have created more chances than Saka in Europe’s top five leagues: Raphinha (39), Villarreal midfielder Álex Baena (35), Kevin Stöger (31) from Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Luis Milla (28) from Getafe. However, it’s not just about the number of chances he is creating; the quality of those opportunities is also significant. Saka ranks highly in expected assists (xA) with a total of 3.17.

Although he is showcasing the creative side of his game, which has always been prevalent, Saka is already four assists shy of equalling his best return of 11 from the 2022/23 season. The 23-year-old remains a goalscoring threat, but he has some work to do before coming close to last season’s total of 16 goals, as he currently sits on three goals.

Saka’s overall performance has earned him considerable praise. With three goals and seven assists, he is one of four players with double-digit goal involvements this season. Notably, he has scored or assisted a goal in 10 of his last 12 league games, including seven out of eight matches so far this season.

Earlier in the season, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was asked whether he was surprised teams continue to allow the England winger space to come in from the flank to such devastating effect.

“With good players it’s like that,” he said. “With (Lionel) Messi, I know he’s going to come in and do that, but you can’t stop him.”

Slowly but surely, the Spaniard has been enhancing the depth and quality of his squad. That being said, there still appears to be a noticeable gap on the right side whenever Saka is absent. Arteta, more than anyone else, is delighted to have Saka back available.