Jamie Redknapp suggests new position for Arsenal star after Man City defeat | Football
Jamie Redknapp believes Arsenal need Bukayo Saka to rediscover his form and perhaps even change position to win the Premier League after adeflating Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
Saka endured another subdued afternoon as Premier League leaders Arsenal were beaten 2-0 by title rivals Man City at Wembley.
Arsenal were marginally on top in the opening 45 minutes and came close through Kai Havertz who was denied by James Trafford early on.
But Manchester City dominated the second half and sealed a fifth Carabao Cup trophy for Pep Guardiola thanks to Nico O’Reilly’s quickfire brace.
For a long period Saka was one of Arsenal’s best and most threatening players but the England star is going through a tough period, scoring just two goals since early December.
Redknapp said Saka was not ‘performing to the level he can’ after Arsenal’s defeat to Man City and suggested he could benefit from moving across to the other flank.
‘This is where you need your star players to step up,’ Redknapp said on Sky Sports. ‘The player that I feel right now that isn’t performing to the level that he can is Bukayo Saka.
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‘I want to see more from him. He’s been a difference-maker for Arsenal for so long, so many times.
‘Of late I haven’t seen that sort of guile and imagination and skill and goals that we need to see from him And he’s got Max Dowman breathing down his neck, Noni Madueke can play down that right-hand side as well.
‘I think maybe even playing down the left, sometimes, Saka. It feels like he’s not getting success against anyone he plays against.
‘I’m a big fan and I love the way he plays but he’s the man who has to start taking the game by the scruff of the next and playing with no fear if Arsenal are going to win this title.’
While Arsenal’s quadruple dream was abruptly ended by Man City, they remain in the driving seat to win their first Premier League title in 2004.
Mikel Arteta’s side boast a nine-point lead over second-placed City but Redknapp believes the Carabao Cup win ‘changes the whole complexion of the title race’.
‘When Liverpool lost here against Newcastle last year, there was 12 points in it,’ Redknapp added. ‘That’s a massive buffer and the other teams didn’t have a game in hand.
‘For Arsenal, the doubts, the negativity, this changes the whole complexion of the title race.
‘I’m not saying it puts Man City completely back in it, but it gives them a massive opportunity when they play in April.’
Arsenal legend Ian Wright also believes the Wembley result could have an impact on the Premier League title race.
‘It’s nine points, but Man City have a game in hand and they’ve got to play them, so it can go down to three,’ he said.
‘All of a sudden, the pressure really turns up. Make no mistake, this nine points is a tight nine points.
‘Arsenal really need to refocus and get themselves back on track for what they want to do. They need to win games now.
‘People talk about how they win games ‘oh it’s set pieces’ – it doesn’t matter, everyone knows that. We’ve got a DNA of winning games resiliently.
‘They’ve got to kick into this because this team know it’s not over.’
As well as going for the title, Arsenal are also in the quarter-finals of both the Champions League and FA Cup, facing Sporting in the former and Southampton in the latter.
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Jamie Redknapp suggests new position for Arsenal star after Man City defeat | Football
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