Arsenal stars give Thomas Tuchel a welcome World Cup headache after Bukayo Saka stunner | OneFootball

Tuchel has selection dilemma as Saka battles Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke for England starting spot

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It must be a frightening prospect for the defenders preparing to try and contain Bukayo Saka for club and country in the coming weeks that, after scoring such a magnificent goal, he and Thomas Tuchel both declared he is still not yet back to his best.

And yet after a starring performance, Saka was left concluding “I am still not my sharpest”, as he reflected on his return to form and fitness.

Saka celebrates his stunner against Wales

The FA via Getty Images

Tuchel expressed a similar sentiment, admitting: “I still think there’s a step to go for Bukayo, naturally, to regain his rhythm and his stamina after one or two injuries now.”

It has been a source of frustration for Saka that injuries, particularly to his hamstring, have all too often coincided with England camps. As such, his only previous involvement under Tuchel had been 71 minutes in the humiliating 3-1 defeat to Senegal in Nottingham in June. He had yet to really get going under the new England head coach.

Saka was one of only two players to return to the squad who were not involved last month, his inclusion coming because Tuchel used him as a direct replacement for Noni Madueke, the outstanding performer in last month’s games against Andorra and Serbia.

Tuchel indicated when he announced his squad last Friday that Saka likely would not have returned to the England fold this month if his Arsenal team-mate had been fit.

Yet the fact he did come in has paid off. Tuchel and Saka himself were delighted by the 24-year-old’s impact, even if both agreed there are still higher levels to find once he has slipped back into a consistent rhythm of game time at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.

“It’s good,” Tuchel said of the fact Saka had come in for Madueke and staked his claim against Wales. “That’s what we want. Noni is unfortunately injured. Noni was excellent in the last camp; he was electric. He then continued to play for his club while Bukayo was out in the same manner. We were very, very sad that he is now injured.

Noni Madueke impressed against Andorra and Serbia last month

The FA via Getty Images

“But Bukayo stepped up. He had to step up, also. It was his first camp when he came without injury and straight away. It’s necessary. The competition is on, and Bukayo had a good performance. He showed what he’s capable of.

“He is a very important player for us. He will fight for his place, because that’s what he’s done for many, many years for Arsenal. This is what we demand of him for England. He is ready to go, and that is what he showed today.”

There was even a little piece of history for Saka at Wembley, as he became Arsenal’s all-time top scorer for the England men’s team with 13 goals, overtaking previous leader Cliff Bastin, who netted 12 for the Three Lions between 1931 and 1938.

Saka was one of the senior figures during the second half of the Gareth Southgate era, and Tuchel, as he looks ahead to next summer’s World Cup, will no doubt have been eager to benefit from the right-winger’s explosive quality.

Against a Wales side powerless to thwart him, Saka produced his most accomplished display since last month’s return from his latest hamstring injury, and he now has three goals in his last three games for club and country following strikes against Olympiacos and West Ham.

“I am starting to feel good again,” he smiled. “It has been a while since I put the ball in the back of the net in an England shirt. It means everything to me.” Tuchel will hope to harness that now.

Madueke is out but has plenty of credit in the bank under Tuchel. Saka has now given him a very welcome selection headache.