Former Arsenal forward Kevin Campbell believes Ben White could be the reason behind Bukayo Saka’s slow start to the campaign.
Saka was one of the Gunners’ best players last season. The 20-year-old scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 38 Premier League appearances, helping his side finish fifth in the league table.
The England international has formed an impressive partnership with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli in attack this season, but is yet to reach the heights expected of him with regards to his individual performances.
Saka has provided just one assist in Arsenal’s four league games this season as opposed to Martinelli, who has scored two goals.
Campbell believes Ben White could be the reason behind Bukayo Saka’s lack of productivity. The central defender has been deployed as a right-back in Arsenal’s four games this season as Takehiro Tomiyasu is yet to regain full fitness.
White has produced some impressive defensive displays but lacks the attacking ability required to provide Saka support whilst going forward.
Martinelli, on the other hand, has played alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko and Granit Xhaka on the left flank. Zinchenko has added another dimension to Arsenal’s attack thanks to his composure on the ball.
“In Crystal Palace game we saw Bukayo Saka get down the right-hand side and whip the ball in and it got turned in by Marc Guehi. I just think that things are happening on the left-hand side solely because of Granit Xhaka and Zinchenko,” Campbell told Football Insider.
“Sometimes one releases the other. You don’t have that on the other side with the way that Martin Odegaard plays. We know what Saka can do but Ben White has been deputising as a full-back and has done a really good job but he’s not an offensive full-back, he’ll be one that sits there. Listen, we can’t wish for everything because we can’t get everything.”
Despite Saka’s lack of end product, the north London side have won all four of their Premier League games this season and sit at the top of the league table, two points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.