{"id":1258,"date":"2026-04-01T07:29:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T07:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=1258"},"modified":"2026-04-01T07:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T07:29:12","slug":"thomas-tuchel-discovers-what-arsenal-already-knew-about-bukayo-saka-after-england-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=1258","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Tuchel discovers what Arsenal already knew about Bukayo Saka after England defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1e9d73\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Bukayo Saka did not feature for England during the international break but his place in Thomas Tuchel&#8217;s starting XI cannot be in doubt ahead of this summer&#8217;s World Cup<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33694322\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bukayo Saka is a key player for England boss Thomas Tuchel\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33694322.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2246867285.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33694322.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2246867285.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33694322.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2246867285.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33694322.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2246867285.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Bukayo Saka is a key player for England boss Thomas Tuchel\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Bukayo Saka is a key player for England boss Thomas Tuchel<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Bukayo Saka did not play a single minute during the international break &#8211; yet his chances of losing a starting spot for England at the World Cup still decreased.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Arsenal forward was forced to withdraw from the Three Lions&#8217; camp due to a fitness issue on Saturday and that paved the way for other attackers to receive minutes on the right flank against Uruguay and Japan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Noni Madueke blew hot and cold on Friday before he was forced off with a knee issue while Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers both struggled to make an impact on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Even when Jarrod Bowen, who appears to be facing an uphill battle to secure his seat on the plane to North America, entered the fray for the final 30 minutes with a point to prove, he looked like he was putting too much pressure on himself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! <a aria-label=\"Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook pageLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFCFootball.London#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Bowen is West Ham&#8217;s Mr Consistent and should be cut some slack while Palmer and Rogers need to perform better if they want to gatecrash Thomas Tuchel&#8217;s starting XI.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">England&#8217;s two stale displays at Wembley were further confirmation that England are a better team when Saka is in the side.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Gunners starlet is not having the best season by his own sky-high standards but he is still integral to Arsenal&#8217;s success and England&#8217;s World Cup hopes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That is why it&#8217;s particularly agitating when Saka is heavily scrutinised amid recent fatigue and a lack of sharpness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The idea that Saka&#8217;s best days are already behind him because of the amount of football he has played in nonsense.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-33690331\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33690331\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33690331.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2161521257.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33690331.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2161521257.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33690331.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2161521257.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33690331.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2161521257.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Bukayo Saka is one of England's big names for the big occasion\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Bukayo Saka is one of England&#8217;s big names for the big occasion<cite aria-label=\"Image: Eddie Keogh - The FA\/The FA via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Eddie Keogh &#8211; The FA\/The FA via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He&#8217;s been indispensable for both club and country since first breaking into Arsenal&#8217;s side and it speaks volumes that he&#8217;s very rarely been rested.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Why is that the case? Well, because of his productivity and ability to impact matches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This summer&#8217;s World Cup will be no different. Saka is a creative hub, a spark and outlet you can rely on and trust.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He has plenty of strong competitors for his England jersey but none have come close to dethroning him during the international break and that is unlikely to change anytime soon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">His decision to pull out on the England squad has also been in the spotlight but it&#8217;s clear he needed time to rest and reset ahead of a massive few months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Time out &#8211; knock or not &#8211; was the best thing for him because he is England&#8217;s undisputed No.1 right-winger and this camp has only reaffirmed that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bukayo Saka did not feature for England during the international break but his place in Thomas Tuchel&#8217;s starting XI cannot be in doubt ahead of this summer&#8217;s World Cup Bukayo Saka is a key player for England boss Thomas Tuchel Bukayo Saka did not play a single minute during the international break &#8211; yet his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}