Bukayo Saka has signed a new landmark Arsenal contract, making him the club’s highest earner with £ 300,000, and the English winger has to do more to get the club over the line in their quest for a first league title in over a decade.
Clearly the biggest talent in the club’s attack, the 24-year-old hasn’t really gotten into his groove this season, having just seven goal contributions to show for his over 20 league appearances, despite the club’s heavy investment to upgrade his surroundings during the summer.
Saka has come a long way to become the most popular figure at Arsenal, and he, without an iota of doubt is a representation of the Arsenal project under Mikel Arteta, and sincerely, no player has played a bigger part.
This season looks the closest Arsenal have come to ending their title drought, but their star attacker has not been at his best, especially when he was clearly hitting his prime before his grueling hamstring injury last season.
Bukayo Saka was well on course to break the record for most Premier League assists in a single season, but has managed just three since his return last April, a surprise dwindle, given that Arsenal have brought in a striker in Viktor Gyokeres.
Although Saka has been the club’s most effective attacker this season even without the numbers to show for it, everyone at the club knows he can do better, and that extra push is just what they need to fend off Manchester City breathing down their neck in the Premier League title race.
Bukayo Saka signed the responsibility to do more at Arsenal
Bukayo Saka’s impact might have been good for Arsenal, but better will be expected with this contract renewal, because it not only make him the club’s highest earner but also places him in the company of football’s highest earners, a privilege for the world class few.
The coming month will be decisive, and Arsenal will be looking forward to being paid with much-improved performances by their prized asset, who has proven he can be that man when they need someone to produce magic.
With the Carabao Cup final, Premier League run-in, and Champions League knockout stages all approaching, Arsenal remain active in all four competitions and can afford to only play Bukayo Saka in the most important games given the depth available for Mikel Arteta.
Saka will also be hopeful of reaching full fitness in time to play a crucial role and get Arsenal over the line, a feat that would add to his already rich reputation at the club.
Arsenal have not won the Premier League title or any major title not named the Emirates FA Cup since 2004, and after years of rebuild under Mikel Arteta, they finally look like title champions, but they need to protect their four-point advantage in the final 12 games to make it a reality.
The club has done well to assure their best player, and he now has to make it his responsibility to drive them to the Premier League title and other possible silverware the season has to offer.
Arsenal is a club that doesn’t need too much from their attackers, given how tidy they are at the back thanks to their defenders and the duo of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi in front. They hardly concede twice in a game, meaning scoring twice could win them over 90 percent of their games.
Bukayo Saka has to take over the role of the difference maker, whether in creativity or scoring, he has it in his locker, he just has to unleash it more frequently, more fiercely, and ensure it is very effective.
A deserved package for the 24-year-old, but he now has a debt to repay, because only he has what it takes to lead Arsenal to the titles, whether in making his teammates better or taking more goalscoring responsibility.
The return of Kai Havertz will also make things easier due to the understanding between the two players. But Arsenal and fans won’t care how the players go about their business, as long as they deliver the major titles come the end of the season.
A Bukayo Saka improved contract looks like the icing on the cake of their project, and they will expect a return in the coming weeks, and a good way to start will be winning at Wolves tonight, beating Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the derby to pass the difficult test in the present.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
