Arsenal: Why Bukayo Saka position change makes so much sense for Mikel Arteta | OneFootball

Enough to suggest move to midfield was experiment worth using again

A pre-match issue picked up by Riccardo Calafiori might not remembered come the end of Arsenal's season, but it could turn out to be a significant moment.

Saka was initially named on the bench but, with Calafiori picking up a problem in the warm-up, he was brought into the starting line-up at the last minute.

That set the stage for a 45-minute experiment that will have given Mikel Arteta plenty to ponder heading into the final months of the season.

Saka started in a central role in midfield as Arsenal beat Wigan 4-0 in the FA Cup

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Saka started in a central role in midfield against Wigan. The 24-year-old has done so before but that was during the early stages of Arteta's reign, back in 2020 and then on a couple of occasions a season later.

This was the first time in recent memory, though, and the first since Saka has established himself as one of the Premier League's best wingers.

He was replaced at half-time in the 4-0 win over Wigan, with Arsenal already four goals up, but Arteta had seen enough to consider it a successful reshuffle.

"I wanted to try it and we might use it in the future," Arteta said.

"So we still have so many games, competitions and different scenarios to play in this season, and that's a possibility that we have."

It is hard to read too much into what this performance means for the weeks and months ahead. Wigan are 22nd in League One and their defending in the first half an hour felt even worse than that.

In the Premier League or in Europe, the Arsenal players will not get the same amount of time and space, or ragged defensive lines.

However, there were enough promising signs to suggest this was an experiment worth another outing against stiffer opposition.

"He's more central, he's closer to the goal," Arteta offered as a verdict.

Saka’s display indicated he can provide another string to Arsenal's bow

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"It's a bit more difficult for the opponent to get his reference constantly.

"He can interchange position with the wide player as well, and he's so good at picking those spaces, and when he's there, he can really hurt you with the ball."

Saka is one of Arsenal's best players but in the current Arsenal system he can become too stuck on the wing. He has only four goals and three assists in the Premier League this season.

Jurrien Timber at right-back regularly gets into more dangerous central positions, with Saka hugging the touchline to draw that space.

As the right No8, though, Saka was able to drift around the final third. At times he made runs beyond Gabriel Jesus, at others he was playing more as a No10, and there were also spells in his more natural wide areas.

For the third Arsenal goal, Saka made the run inside Madueke and got to the byline, putting in a cross that was turned into his own net by Jack Hunt.

Saka's presence alone in midfield created opportunities. Arsenal's first goal came when Will Aimson, playing on the left of Wigan's back three, pushed up to close down Saka and Madueke made the run into that vacant area.

On other occasions, even when it did not lead to a goal, Madueke was left one-on-one to get at his man, Wigan unable to double or triple up with Saka lurking inside.

There was a nice balance to Saka and Madueke on that right wing, a combination of calm, technical security and more unpredictable, direct running.

With Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino injured, and Martin Odegaard missing the match with a knee injury, Arsenal have had their midfield numbers cut.

Unlike in previous seasons, there also have an alternative option to Saka on the right. Madueke has three goals and an assist in his last five matches.

Saka is unlikely to become a regular in midfield, but this display indicated he can provide another string to Arsenal's bow.

With the team's attack not hitting top gear on an individual or collective level, there must be a temptation for Arteta to turn a temporary experiment into something more permanent.