Arteta hints at a new plan involving Saka

Following the 4-0 win against Wigan in the FA Cup, manager Mikel Arteta disclosed plans to try Bukayo Saka in a central position, introducing a fresh tactical approach for Arsenal in the upcoming period.

Coach Mikel Arteta made a notable tactical move by shifting Bukayo Saka to play centrally during Arsenal’s 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over Wigan Athletic. After the match, the Spanish manager openly admitted he “wanted to test” this strategy and did not rule out continuing to use it for the rest of the season.

Initially, Saka was not included in the starting lineup. However, Riccardo Calafiori’s injury during warm-up forced Arteta to alter his plans at the last minute. Instead of keeping Saka on his usual right wing, he positioned the England star as a number 8, playing closer to the goal and frequently cutting inside. This adjustment immediately paid off as Arsenal scored four goals in under 30 minutes thanks to strikes from Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and an own goal by Jack Hunt.

Impressed by his players’ explosive performance, Arteta showed clear satisfaction. “I’m very pleased with the result, especially how we started. When playing in a cup against such opponents, you have to show hunger from the beginning and we did that. I was a bit surprised by the team’s cohesion despite many changes, but we still scored some beautiful goals,”he shared.

Regarding Saka specifically, the Spanish tactician emphasized that this tactical option was premeditated. “It’s a possibility and I wanted to try it. We might use it in the future. There are still many matches and different scenarios this season,”Arteta stated. He also elaborated: “Playing centrally, he is closer to the goal, making it harder for opponents to mark him. He can interchange with wingers and is very skilled at finding space. In that position, Saka can truly be a threat with the ball.”

Besides Saka, Arteta also praised newcomer Eberechi Eze, who provided two assists and showed confidence in his actions in the final third. “His passes are very precise. I like how he dares to take risks and shoot. Creative players need to create moments like that, and today he delivered,”Arteta emphasized.

The convincing win secured Arsenal’s place in the FA Cup fifth round and boosted their morale before returning to the intense pace of the season. With these bold tactical experiments, Arteta demonstrated he still has many “cards” to play ahead.