Pundit suggests Saka is blocking the pathway for Arsenal’s youngsters

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·5 September 2025

Pundit suggests Saka is blocking the pathway for Arsenal’s youngsters

Darren Bent has raised concerns that Bukayo Saka could unintentionally be limiting the opportunities available to young talents such as Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman. His comments highlight the challenges emerging players often face when established stars dominate certain positions.

Saka’s Influence on Emerging Players

Last season, during Saka’s injury absence, Nwaneri was given the chance to step into the Arsenal side and showcase his abilities. The teenager impressed during this period, but his time in the starting line-up was short-lived. Once Saka returned to full fitness, Nwaneri found himself back on the bench, with his most effective position being on the right wing, an area where Saka has become indispensable.

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Currently, Saka is sidelined once again, which could provide Nwaneri with further opportunities to feature. However, the pattern appears likely to repeat itself once the senior attacker returns, pushing the teenager out of contention for regular game time. Adding to the challenge is the emergence of Max Dowman, another promising youngster who also plays in a similar role. His development may also be hindered by the dominance of Saka in that area of the pitch.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Bent’s Perspective on the Situation

Speaking to Talk Sport, Bent explained the dilemma facing these prospects. He said, “I look at Arsenal. We’ve got Max Dowman, who is incredible, and we’ve got Ethan Nwaneri, who can both play down that right-hand side, and Lewis-Skelly. Lewis-Skelly is probably going to get more opportunities, though this season Calafiori has been very good. Their problem is that they’ve got Saka there, who was like a wonderkid, do you know what I mean? I think that’s his [Dowman’s] best position [right wing], whereas I think Nwaneri can play 10, but he’s got Odegaard and Eze’s just rocked up.”

Bent’s remarks underline the wider issue within top clubs, where highly talented young players are often restricted by the presence of established stars. While Saka is undeniably central to Arsenal’s success, the reality remains that players like Nwaneri and Dowman must compete against one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers.

The situation illustrates the balance between nurturing youth and relying on proven quality. For Arsenal’s youngsters, breaking into the first team will require not only talent but also patience and adaptability. As Bent suggests, their progression may hinge on positional flexibility and the ability to seize rare opportunities when they arise.

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