Arsenal's Crown Prince Becomes the Biggest Weakness, Missed Two Key Opportunities in League Cup Final and Lost Possession 13 Times

Arteta excels in all other aspects but lacks boldness; his offensive strategy is overly cautious, and this season's coaching hallmark is akin to squeezing onto a subway. Regarding Arsenal's star player, the crown prince Saka has been in notably poor form this season, yet Arteta dares not bench him.

In the League Cup final, Arsenal lost 0-2 to Manchester City and forfeited the championship. In this match, the 24-year-old English right winger Saka started and played the full game, continuing his slump. Saka's performance statistics in this game were truly dismal:3 shots with 2 on target, attempted 1 dribble unsuccessfully, 36 touches with 13 lost possessions, missed 2 scoring chances, and was dribbled past by opponents 5 times……

Saka is not only Arsenal's crown prince but also one of the team's captains, having just renewed his contract with Arsenal until 2031 last month. According to British media reports, Saka's weekly wage at Arsenal has exceeded £300,000, making him the top earner in the squad. However, based on the ability and form Saka has displayed this season, even £200,000 per week is excessive. He has 9 goals and 5 assists in 42 matches across all competitions, with 6 goals and 3 assists in 27 Premier League games. His market value stands at €120 million, a figure that has consecutively declined from €150 million, indicating that Saka's valuation is severely inflated.

Personal viewpoint: Saka, at 24, is already faltering. If Arteta continues to build the team around Saka, even if Arsenal wins the Premier League title this season, their future achievements may not be very high, as other Premier League powerhouses will also recalibrate. This season, Arsenal leads by 9 points having played an extra game, not because Arsenal is exceptionally strong, but because other teams are undergoing transitions and face numerous issues. Saka has quietly become the biggest短板 in Arsenal's offense, yet Arteta seems completely unaware of this.