Bukayo Saka’s 2025/26 Season: When High Standards Meet Harsh Reality

Bukayo Saka finds himself at a rare crossroads. After years of being Arsenal’s most reliable attacking engine, the "Starboy" is enduring a season defined by transition, physical fatigue, and a frustrating dip in the clinical output we’ve come to expect.

While Arsenal remains a force at the top of the table, Saka’s individual spark has flickered, leaving fans and pundits wondering if the relentless schedule of the last few years has finally caught up to him. Bukayo Saka is currently experiencing a very poor season by his own standards, and has many fans and pundits questioning if the winger can get back to his old form.

📉 A Stark Drop in Output

By his own lofty standards, Saka’s statistics for the 2025/26 campaign tell an unfamiliar story. Goals and assists have dried up compared to previous years, and he has often struggled to impose himself in the decisive moments. With just four goals in 21 league appearances, Saka is tracking toward his lowest-scoring full season in years. His creativity has also dipped, with the decisive final pass far less frequent than fans have come to expect. He has failed to score in his last 13 appearances, a sobering statistic for the talented winger. He is also starting fewer games, with Leandro Trossard taking up his place. The Belgian is performing far better than Saka and is being rewarded with increased minutes by Mikel Arteta.

Saka has transitioned from a guaranteed source of penetration to a player too often neutralised on the right flank. Opponents have clearly adapted, doubling up on him early and forcing him into safer, less dangerous areas of the pitch.

🤕 The Cost of Heavy Minutes

The clearest explanation lies in physical burnout. Few players in Europe have logged as many “red zone” minutes over the past three seasons, and in 2025/26, the toll is evident.

• Recurring hamstring issues have disrupted rhythm and confidence.

• A significant tear earlier in the campaign sidelined him for over two months, with Saka leaving the stadium on crutches.

• Even since returning, he has looked a yard slower, lacking the explosive burst that once made him unplayable.

Mikel Arteta has acknowledged the need for careful management, most recently benching Saka for the 0–0 draw with Nottingham Forest due to another knock.

🧠 Tactical Isolation and Predictability

Ironically, Arsenal’s evolving attack has also worked against him. The arrival of Viktor Gyökeres has shifted attacking gravity toward the centre:

• Isolated wide: Saka is now frequently pinned to the touchline, double-teamed by full-backs who no longer fear his pace.

• Predictability: Without peak sharpness, his trademark inside cut has been neutralised, leading to a career-high 24.3% ball-loss rate per game.

Where Saka once thrived in chaos, this season, he has often looked frustrated and crowded out. However, Gyökeres has failed to impress so far, being labelled a "flop" despite his commanding transfer fee. Should the Swede continue to disappoint, Saka may be entrusted with more minutes to pick up the slack.

🔥 Character Unquestioned

Despite the struggle to find the back of the net, Saka’s professionalism remains beyond reproach. He continues to track back, press, and take responsibility, traits that have kept him in Mikel Arteta's starting XI even when the "magic" isn't clicking.

His work rate was on full display in the recent 3–2 loss to Manchester United, where he played the full 90 minutes. However, the lack of cutting edge was evident, as he was unable to break United's patient defensive block.

Despite the struggles, his attitude has not wavered. His professionalism remains intact, but effort alone hasn’t been enough to reignite his form.

🔮 The Verdict: Reset or Warning Sign?

Arsenal remain in the title race, but notably despite Saka’s form rather than because of it. The arrival of Noni Madueke has offered rotation, yet the Gunners ultimately need the world-class version of their No. 7. This season may prove to be a reset year, not necessarily the start of a decline. However, the crossroads facing Bukayo Saka are real. Whether through managed minutes, tactical tweaks, or time on the bench, Saka must rediscover rhythm and freedom.

The coming months will determine if this season is merely a temporary stutter or the beginning of a deeper decline. Saka is still young and central to the Arsenal project, but the pressure is mounting. Arteta's challenge now is to find a way to rediscover Saka's freedom, perhaps through managed minutes or a tactical shift that doesn't leave him so isolated.

For the first time in his career, Bukayo Saka is learning how it feels to struggle at the top. How he responds may define the next chapter of his rise. "The journey's not always going to be smooth," Saka noted this week. "It's up to us to show our character." Arsenal and England fans alike will hope the forward can regain his own rhythm and form.