2. Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s leading goalscorer last time out. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka has come on leaps and bounds since his first appearance as a right-winger. He has quickly become one of the most dangerous wingers in the league. Equally adept at cutting inside and driving down the byline, he always has the beating of his marker. Such is the maturity and intelligence with which he plays that his age is sometimes forgotten.
Saka is only 20 years old. While his ability is unquestionable, his consistency can be improved. There were a few games last season where he flagged, seemingly devoid of his usual and expected explosiveness. This can largely be attributed to his age and stage of development.
20-year-olds are not finished products. His body is continuously adapting to the rigours of regular, first-team football. In addition to his youth, Saka gets kicked and fouled at every possible chance by the opposition. And with only a lacklustre Nicolas Pepe on the bench, he is forced to play week in, week out. Jesus will change that.
The Man City man has been brought in to play striker. Arteta knows exactly how to use his strengths to maximise a developing attack. At his former club, however, Jesus was often deployed on the right due to Pep’s endless tinkering. With Eddie Nketiah signing a new contract, Jesus could be utilised as a rotation option to give Saka some much-needed rest throughout the season.
With a younger and smaller squad, players must be kept fit and firing for as many games as possible. Using the five subs rule to its full effect will be key in allowing Saka to do what he does best and terrorise defences all over England.
Continued on the next slide…
Jesus was often deployed on the right due to Pep’s endless tinkering</a>. With Eddie Nketiah signing a new contract, Jesus could be utilised as a rotation option to give Saka some much-needed rest throughout the season.</p>
<p>With a younger and smaller squad, players must be kept fit and firing for as many games as possible. Using the five subs rule to its full effect will be key in allowing Saka to do what he does best and terrorise defences all over England.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/06/3-arsenal-players-most-affected-jesus-arrival/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The player most affected by Jesus' arrival </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>1. Eddie Nketiah</h2>
<div id="attachment_126369" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-126369" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/06/3-arsenal-players-most-affected-jesus-arrival/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1240832238.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1240832238.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1240832238-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Eddie Nketiah will compete with Jesus for a spot up front. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<p>There were numerous doubts about Eddie Nketiah last season. Questions about his level certainly arose as did questions about possible replacements. Earlier this year, it seemed as if the academy product was going to leave on a free transfer to a club elsewhere, leaving his Arsenal career in the rearview mirror. Yet months passed, conversations took place and his <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/06/3-arsenal-players-most-affected-jesus-arrival/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/05/26/3-positives-of-eddie-nketiahs-arsenal-contract-extension/">signature was secured</a>.</p>
<p>Flitting in and out of the team and making brief cameos off the bench, Aubameyang’s departure combined with Lacazette’s sub-par performances eventually paved the way for Nketiah to do a job. He did more than that. He showed his goalscoring instincts in big games but he has never quite been trusted to be a primary or even secondary option for the striker position. He has much to prove this coming season.</p>
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<p>Fortunately, Jesus comes to share the goalscoring burden. The two strikers have quite similar profiles. Excellent finishing, dynamism, superb close control and dribbling are present in abundance. Arsenal fans have seen the importance of competition on the left wing, with Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe rising to new levels. Supporters will hope to see both Jesus and Nketiah improve as they fight for the starting spot.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
