Mikel Arteta has set Bukayo Saka a target of scoring two or three goals in every game as Arsenal look to increase the England international’s threat in front of goal.
Saka has begun the season taking up more central positions, allowing him to get closer to goal and produce the kind of close-range finishes more commonly associated with a striker.
Arteta believes that moving the 25-year-old nearer to the penalty area can improve both his numbers and his influence on the team.
“The closer he’s in around the box, shorter distances, closer to the goal. We know the outcome of that and generating volume of these kind of actions is going to only increase his numbers and the impact on the team,” the Arsenal manager told Sky Sports.
Arteta wants more goals from Bukayo Saka
Asked whether he had given Saka a specific target, Arteta replied: “Two or three per game and the contribution has to be that you go with that mindset every time to the pitch or in training. I think you’re going to going to like at the end of the season what happens.”
The remark appeared to be delivered with a degree of humour, but Arteta’s message reflects his desire for Saka to adopt a more prolific approach and make more frequent runs into the box.
Saka has established himself as a major figure for Arsenal and remains a popular player at the club. However, injuries and the amount of football he has played have affected his consistency, and he was not at his best for much of last season despite Arsenal ending their title drought.
A more central role could offer Arsenal another route to goals. The club lack a player who can reliably score 25 or more times in a season, so greater output from Saka could reduce the pressure on Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz to provide the bulk of the team’s goals.
