Just moments before the final whistle sounded in Munich last Wednesday night, Bukayo Saka struck a corner straight onto the head of a Bayern defender at the front post.
It was a shocking set-piece, but one that rather summed up the tired nature of his recent performances, and indeed Arsenal’s.The last seven days or so have given Mikel Arteta and his side a reality check.
The Gunners tasted a bitter defeat in the title race to Aston Villa last weekend and were then dumped out of the Champions League following an aggregate loss to Harry Kane and Co.Both performances were rather lifeless, with Saka even singled out for criticism.
Typically, the winger has been one of a few members of this team to escape the blame but not on this occasion.
His set pieces are usually some of the best in the business too – there is a reason Arsenal are the best in that department in the Premier League – but that moment in the dying embers in Germany signified that he may well be running out of gas.
Who could blame the Englishman, either? He has played over 3,000 minutes this term with five games still left to play.It must be stated, however, that he has still been sublime for the vast majority of the campaign.
Although he could not add to his tally for the season as Arsenal bounced back with a 2-0 win at Wolves, Saka remains the club’s top goalscorer on 18 strikes.
That said, their player of the match from that victory at Molineux, Declan Rice, will be right up there with his national teammate when the club’s player of the season award is discussed in a few weeks.
